ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team showed resilience on Saturday afternoon, overcoming a 16-point first-half deficit to defeat the University of Valley Forge 77-65 in United East Conference (UEC) play. Sophomore guard Kyree Smith and first-year forward Yassine Idrissa delivered standout performances, combining for 48 points as the Seahawks extended their winning streak to five games.
Valley Forge seized early control of the game, racing to a 24-8 lead within the first eight minutes. The Patriots’ offense was electric, hitting eight of their first 13 shots, including four three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Seahawks struggled to find their rhythm, connecting on only three of 10 shots and committing five turnovers during the same span.
The tide turned midway through the first half as Smith and senior captain Jake Koverman sparked a 22-7 run for St. Mary’s. Koverman hit two crucial three-pointers while Smith’s steady scoring chipped away at Valley Forge’s lead. The Seahawks closed the first half with a 9-0 surge, fueled entirely by Smith’s offensive effort, to take a 39-34 advantage into the break. Smith was the leading scorer at halftime with 18 points.
St. Mary’s carried their momentum into the second half, opening with a 12-3 run that extended their lead to 51-37 at the 16:14 mark. Koverman set the tone with his third three-pointer of the game. Despite the growing deficit, Valley Forge mounted a comeback, piecing together a 17-4 run to pull within one point at 55-54 with 11:32 remaining. Christian Renninger led the charge with nine points, while Michael Gaines contributed two timely three-pointers.
The Patriots tied the game at 64-64 with 5:37 left on a three-pointer by Isaiah Reece. However, St. Mary’s responded decisively, closing the game on a 13-1 run over the final four minutes. Smith and Idrissa were instrumental in the Seahawks’ strong finish, combining for several key plays to seal the victory.
St. Mary’s dominated in key areas, particularly inside the paint, outscoring Valley Forge 50-30 and outrebounding the Patriots 43-28. The rebounding edge marked the Seahawks’ largest margin of the season, with Idrissa grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. Defensively, St. Mary’s recorded a season-best 11 steals, capitalizing on Valley Forge’s 15 turnovers. Offensively, the Seahawks shot 49.2 percent from the field and made 12 of 15 free throw attempts.
Smith delivered a career-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting and added four steals. Idrissa notched his third double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor. Koverman contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, hitting three three-pointers across the game.
Valley Forge had strong contributions from Michael Gaines, who led the team with 16 points, while Renninger added 15 and Reece contributed 14 points off the bench. The Patriots’ bench was a bright spot, contributing 21 points to keep the game competitive.
The Seahawks, now 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference, will look to continue their momentum in the upcoming Seahawk Holiday Classic. St. Mary’s will face Misericordia on December 14 and SUNY Maritime on December 15, with both games tipping off at 3 p.m. at the MPOARC Arena in St. Mary’s City. These matchups will provide a chance for the Seahawks to extend their winning streak and further solidify their early-season success.
