Newburgh, N.Y. – Playing in their finalshome games,
Nick Lucas (Sparta, N.J.) and
Paul Sienke (Washington, D.C.) each scored 16 points and were two of four Knights in double-figures as the Mount Saint Mary College Men's Basketball team scored a 71-62 victory over Maritime on Senior Day.
Saturday's victory closes the Mount's season at 7-17 overall and 5-11 in Skyline Conference play, while Maritime finishes the 2021-22 season at 4-19 and 1-15 in league action.
First Half
- The Knights got off to a fast start, connecting on three triples in the opening 2:03 of the game, including a pair of long-range jumpers from Lucas to open an early 9-4 advantage.
- After the Privateers battled back to within two points, Sienke and Jayden Figueroa (New Windsor, N.Y.) connected from long distance to push the Mount in front 15-7 at the 15:28 mark of the first half.
- Maritime would close the gap to just two points two more times before five straight points from Ryan Graham (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) spread the advantage to 24-15 at the midway point of the opening period.
- The Mount would not have its lead drop below three points again before halftime and used a three-point play from Sienke in the closing seconds of the half to take a 37-31 lead into the intermission.
- Mount Saint Mary shot an efficient 48.1-percent from the floor in the opening period and connected on eight of its 15 three-point attempts, shooting a blistering 53.3-percent from long range.
- Sienke and Figueroa led the scoring attack with eight points apiece at the break.
- Graham and Lucas combined for 13 points for the Knights prior to halftime.
- Ryan Donovan led all scorers at the half for Maritime with 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
Second Half
- Mount Saint Mary never trailed in the second half and quickly moved its lead back to nine points on another Lucas three ball that gave the Knights a 45-36 edge just under four minutes into the second frame.
- The Knights' lead grew to double-figures on a three-point play from Sienke at the 14:40 mark as the Mount moved in front 48-38.
- Maritime answered with the next nine points to trim its deficit to 48-47 on a Nick Ovanessian lay-up at the 8:09 mark.
- Mount Saint Mary responded with a three-point play from Figueroa to push its lead back to 51-47 and would not see its lead fall below two points the rest of the way.
- A Chris Yearwood (Red Hook, N.Y.) three-pointer gave the Mount back a 10-point lead at 64-54 with 3:57 left to play.
- Sienke then converted a layup to push the Knights in front 66-54 with 3:35 left, giving the Mount it largest advantage of the day.
- Maritime climbed back to within six points with 63 seconds left, but three free-throws from Sienke in the final minute sent the Mount to the final nine-point decision.
- Mount Saint Mary cooled to 35.7-percent shooting in the second half, but connected on five more three-pointers.
- Maritime improved to 52.2-percent shooting after halftime, but struggled from three-point range and the free-throw line, going 2-for-8 and 5-for-13, respectively.
- Lucas finished the second half 2-for-3 from behind the arc and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line on his way to 10 points after the break.
- Jaylin Gray finished the second half with seven points for the Privateers.
For The Knights
- Lucas finished the day 4-for-8 from the floor and 4-for-6 from three-point range on his way to his career-high point total. He added three assists to the winning effort.
- Sienke went 5-for-11 from the floor and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line as he scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game. He finished the day with two assists and a pair of steals.
- Figueroa chipped in 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
- Connor Cyran closed a solid day with 11 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.
For The Privateers
- Donovan led all players with 18 points and hauled in seven rebounds.
- Gray finished the day with 14 points, two assists and three steals.
- Mike Regan wrapped up the day with eight points, five caroms and a game-high four assists.
Game Statistics
- Mount Saint Mary shot 41.8-percent overall on the day and connected on 13 three-pointers, shooting 40.6-percent from behind the arc.
- Maritime shot 49-percent overall, but made just three triples in 15 attempts.
- Mount Saint Mary outscored the Privateers 12-9 from the free-throw line with Maritime going 9-for-25 from the stripe in the contest.
- Mount Saint Mary held the advantage in points off of turnovers 14-9 and second chance points 10-3.
