A dramatic three-pointer by sophomore guard James Lerner in the final seconds secured a 70-67 victory for St. Mary’s College of Maryland (4-3, 2-0 UEC) over Notre Dame of Maryland University (2-4, 1-1 UEC) on Wednesday night. The Seahawks, on the road in Baltimore, claimed their third straight win and strengthened their position in United East Conference play.
Mentor vs. Protégé
The game carried a unique backstory, pitting Notre Dame head coach TJ Jordan against his former coach and mentor, St. Mary’s head coach Chris Harney. Jordan, who played for Harney from 2005 to 2008, graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2008 and now leads the Gators in his second season as head coach.
Key Moments
The game showcased 11 ties and numerous lead changes, keeping fans on edge until the final buzzer. Jamal Lee’s rebound and put-back layup tied the game at 67 with 14 seconds remaining, setting up a decisive final possession for the Seahawks.
Out of a timeout, St. Mary’s devised a play that culminated with Lerner receiving a pass from Kyree Smith and sinking a three-pointer with just two seconds on the clock. Notre Dame attempted a last-second three to force overtime, but Lee’s effort was off the mark.
The first half ended tied at 30 as both teams struggled offensively, each shooting below 35% from the field. St. Mary’s built an early 10-3 lead on Smith’s layup, while Notre Dame responded with a second-half surge that gave them a 56-48 advantage, their largest lead of the game.
The Seahawks rallied late, reclaiming a 65-60 lead with just over two minutes to play. A 7-2 run by the Gators tied the score, setting the stage for Lerner’s game-winning heroics.
By the Numbers
The Seahawks excelled defensively, matching their season-high with 10 blocked shots, thanks largely to Yassine Idrissa’s career-best eight blocks. St. Mary’s also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Notre Dame 32-23, with Smith and Idrissa each grabbing nine boards.
Offensively, St. Mary’s improved significantly in the second half, shooting 55.2% from the field and finishing at 46.0% overall. Notre Dame posted a 40.6% field goal percentage, buoyed by a strong 51.7% performance in the second half.
Notable Performances
St. Mary’s College:
- Kyree Smith: Led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
- Yassine Idrissa: Contributed 16 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks in a dominant two-way performance.
- James Lerner: Added 12 points, including the game-winning three-pointer, along with three rebounds and three assists.
Notre Dame:
- Corwin Holland II, Jackson Pugh, and Chandler Johnson each tallied 11 points to lead the Gators in their first conference loss of the season.
Up Next
The Seahawks return to St. Mary’s City on December 7 to face Valley Forge (6-4, 1-1 UEC) at the MPOARC Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. as St. Mary’s looks to extend their winning streak to four games.
