ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – Chris Harney ’97, head coach of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team, reached a major milestone Wednesday night, earning his 300th career victory. The Seahawks (8-7, 4-2 UEC) secured a 64-45 win over United East Conference rival Rosemont College (3-11, 2-4 UEC), snapping a two-game losing streak.
Harney, who has spent his entire coaching career at St. Mary’s College, now boasts a 20-year record of 300-206, a .593-win percentage. His tenure includes five NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, two Elite Eight runs, four conference tournament championships, and six regular-season conference titles.
“This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the players and staff I’ve been fortunate to work with over the years,” Harney said after the game.
Game Recap
The Seahawks opened strong with a 5-0 lead and extended it to 10-4 midway through the first half, thanks to a bucket by junior captain JD Salo. However, Rosemont responded with a 10-1 run to claim a 14-11 advantage, fueled by four points from Bruce Black.
St. Mary’s trailed 21-20 at halftime, but first-year guard Tjay Beckles’ three-pointer in the final seconds of the half kept the deficit to just one point. Beckles then helped the Seahawks regain control early in the second half, sparking a decisive 26-6 run that put St. Mary’s ahead 49-28 with 7:39 left to play.
The Seahawks capitalized on Rosemont’s 21 turnovers, converting them into 22 points. St. Mary’s shot 46.3 percent from the field, including an impressive 56.7 percent in the second half, to secure the victory.
Key Performers
Sophomore guard Kyree Smith led all scorers with 19 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Beckles contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while first-year forward Yassine Idrissa posted 11 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, the latter setting a career high.
For Rosemont, Bruce Black led the Ravens with 17 points as the team suffered its third consecutive loss.
Looking Ahead
St. Mary’s College will aim to build on this victory as they travel to Reading, Pennsylvania, to face Penn State Berks (4-8, 3-2 UEC) on Saturday, January 11, at 3:30 p.m.
