The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team continued its challenging start to the 2024-25 season, falling to McDaniel College 73-57 during Friday night’s Battle of DC/Maryland in Westminster, Maryland. The Seahawks remain winless through their first three games, while McDaniel improved to 2-0 with a dominant second-half performance.
First Half: Tight Battle Ends in McDaniel’s Favor
The first half saw an evenly matched contest with six lead changes and three ties. St. Mary’s College gained early momentum with a 9-5 lead, fueled by junior captain Jake Koverman’s five consecutive points. However, McDaniel regained control, heading into halftime with a 27-23 advantage after a 5-0 run highlighted by Jeong Hwang’s three points.
Second Half: McDaniel Takes Over
The Seahawks started the second half strong with an 18-10 run, regaining a 41-37 lead at the 14:09 mark. Contributions came from first-year guard Tjay Beckles, who scored six points, and Koverman and sophomore Ree Smith, who added five points each. Despite this resurgence, St. Mary’s struggled to sustain its momentum.
After narrowing McDaniel’s lead to 49-47 with a Smith layup at 9:45, the Green Terror responded with a decisive 22-8 run over the next seven minutes, effectively sealing the victory. By the 2:05 mark, McDaniel led 71-55, leaving the Seahawks with no chance to recover.
Key Performances
McDaniel’s offense surged in the second half, shooting an impressive 76% (19-of-25) from the field. The Green Terror ended the game with a 51% shooting average and held a 36-29 edge in rebounding. St. Mary’s struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc, converting only 3-of-14 three-point attempts.
For the Seahawks, Koverman led the way with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding six rebounds, three assists, and one block. Smith contributed nine points, while Beckles chipped in eight. First-year forward Yassine Idrissa added four assists and filled the stat sheet with three points, three rebounds, one block, and one steal.
McDaniel’s standout performer was Chuck Contee, who scored a game-high 26 points while recording five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. David Kearney added 12 points, four assists, and one block.
Looking Ahead
The Seahawks will aim to regroup and secure their first win as the season progresses, while McDaniel builds on their early success. St. Mary’s College will need to address their shooting struggles and improve their defensive consistency to turn the tide in future matchups.
