The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team captured its first victory of the 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon with an 80-62 triumph over Gallaudet University. The Seahawks’ win came during the consolation game of the Battle of D.C. & Maryland, improving their record to 1-3 while dropping the Bison to 0-3.
Seahawks Dominate First Half
Gallaudet’s Brandon Chung opened the scoring with a quick basket to give the Bison an early 2-0 lead, but that would be their only advantage of the game. St. Mary’s quickly responded with a commanding 30-6 run over the next 10 minutes, building a 22-point cushion.
Sophomore guard James Lerner led the Seahawks in the first half with 13 points, helping his team to a 46-33 halftime lead. A late three-point play from Gallaudet’s Blessed Mbogo trimmed the deficit to 11, but the Bison couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Bison Rally Falls Short
Gallaudet showed resilience in the second half, cutting the Seahawks’ lead to 61-52 with 10:46 remaining. Six different players contributed to the Bison’s rally. However, St. Mary’s quickly regained control with an 11-4 run, sparked and capped by junior captain Jake Koverman. His jump shot and subsequent three-pointer stretched the lead to 16 points with five minutes left.
From there, the Seahawks maintained their dominance, closing out the game for an 18-point victory.
Standout Performances
Lerner finished the game as the Seahawks’ leading scorer with 17 points, adding four assists, two rebounds, and one steal. First-year guard Tjay Beckles delivered a season-best performance, contributing 15 points, four rebounds, and three steals.
First-year forward Yassine Idrissa also had a notable outing, scoring 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds while recording two assists and one block. Sophomore guard Ree Smith added 12 points and tied a career-high with six assists, along with four rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Gallaudet was led by Mbogo, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Wyatt Carlson added 11 points off the bench for the Bison.
Team Efforts and Shooting Prowess
The Seahawks showcased strong shooting in the first half, converting 56.3% of their field goals (18-of-32). They finished the game with a season-best 48.3% shooting from the field. Although Gallaudet out-rebounded St. Mary’s 43-39, the Bison struggled to contain the Seahawks’ balanced offensive attack.
What’s Next
St. Mary’s College will look to build on this momentum when they travel to face undefeated Stevenson University (3-0) on November 23. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the Owings Mills Gymnasium in Owings Mills, Maryland.
