St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team fell just short in a closely contested non-conference matchup against in-state rival Salisbury University on Tuesday night, losing 72-66. Junior captain Jake Koverman and sophomore guard Ree Smith combined for 49 points, leading the Seahawks’ late-game surge that brought them within two points in the closing minutes. The hard-fought game ultimately tipped in favor of the Sea Gulls, who held off St. Mary’s for the win, improving their record to 2-1, while the Seahawks dropped to 0-2 on the season.
How the Game Unfolded
St. Mary’s kept pace with Salisbury in the early stages, displaying a tenacious effort to match the host team’s intensity. The Seahawks seized their first and only lead at 16-15, just past the halfway mark in the first half, thanks to a three-pointer by first-year forward Yassine Idrissa. However, Salisbury responded swiftly, launching a 15-4 scoring run that shifted momentum firmly in their favor. Over a span of seven minutes, the Sea Gulls capitalized on three successful three-point shots and key plays from forward Jordan Oates, who netted seven points in that stretch, establishing a 30-20 lead.
The Seahawks, undeterred by the setback, closed the first half with a 6-2 run, narrowing the gap to 36-30 as halftime approached. Contributions from Smith, Koverman, and sophomore guard James Lerner provided a boost as the team headed into the locker room down by six.
Returning for the second half, Salisbury maintained its grip on the lead, even pushing their advantage to double digits at 54-43 after a three-point shot from Tyler Ball with just under nine minutes to play. The Seahawks continued to fight back, focusing on defensive pressure that forced three turnovers and limited Salisbury’s shooting accuracy. This strategy paid dividends, as St. Mary’s managed to trim an 11-point deficit to just two points, with 3:09 left on the clock. Key efforts from Smith and Koverman, who combined for 15 points in the closing minutes, gave the Seahawks a late surge of hope.
Despite the late rally, Salisbury found stability in Oates, who scored six consecutive points in the final minutes to give the Sea Gulls the buffer they needed to secure the victory. Salisbury ultimately held off the Seahawks’ comeback attempt, securing a 72-66 win.
Inside the Stats
The Seahawks showed impressive resilience, shooting 51.5% from the field in the second half, a marked improvement that kept them in contention until the final buzzer. St. Mary’s also demonstrated dominance in the paint, outscoring Salisbury 46-26 in that area. However, Salisbury’s strength on the boards proved pivotal, as they outrebounded the Seahawks by a margin of 46-36.
Koverman led the scoring efforts for St. Mary’s, finishing with a career-high 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including two three-pointers. He also contributed four rebounds and two blocks. Smith added a career-best 24 points, shooting 11-of-17 from the field, along with six rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block. Idrissa also made a notable impact with 10 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.
For Salisbury, Oates was the standout, posting a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds. His performance, which included four steals, two assists, and two blocks, played a critical role in the Sea Gulls’ second consecutive win.
Looking Ahead
St. Mary’s will seek their first win of the season on Friday, November 15, as they face McDaniel College (1-0) in Frederick, Maryland. The game, part of the Battle of DC/Maryland at Hood College, tips off at 7:30 p.m. The Seahawks will aim to build on their strong individual performances and defensive efforts as they look to reverse their fortunes.
