St. Mary’s City, Md. — Four players scored in double figures as the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team opened United East Conference play with a 99-83 victory over Gallaudet University on December 3. Sophomore James Crimaudo matched his career high with 23 points to lead the Seahawks, who improved to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference at MPOARC Arena.
The Seahawks built an early 11-3 lead in the first three minutes behind a pair of three-pointers from Crimaudo. Gallaudet responded, taking a 31-28 advantage at the 5:49 mark of the first half on an old-fashioned three-point play by Alex Ortman. St. Mary’s College closed the half on a 15-8 run, sparked by seven straight points from senior captain JD Salo, to enter halftime ahead 43-39.
In the second half, St. Mary’s College pulled away, holding a double-digit lead for the final 14 minutes. The Seahawks’ largest margin reached 23 points with two minutes remaining when first-year guard Nick Baron scored his first field goal for the team. St. Mary’s College shot 55.7 percent from the field overall, including 58.3 percent in the second half, and made 10 of 24 three-pointers for a season-high 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. The team outrebounded Gallaudet 41-29.
Crimaudo finished 7-of-13 from the field with six rebounds, a career-best six assists and two steals in 34 minutes. Senior captain Jake Koverman added 14 points, a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. First-year guard Korey Blair contributed 13 points, a career-high four assists and one steal. Salo posted 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists, marking his first double-digit scoring game of the season.
For Gallaudet, which fell to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference, Ortman led all scorers with 25 points off the bench. Jory Valencia added 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Bison shot 42.2 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line but committed 15 turnovers compared to 12 for St. Mary’s College.
The Seahawks forced seven steals while committing six of their own. St. Mary’s College converted 70 percent of its free throws, going 21-of-30, while Gallaudet made 23-of-28.
St. Mary’s College next hosts Salisbury University on December 10 at 6:30 p.m. in a non-conference game designated as Military Appreciation Night. Salisbury entered the week at 3-5 overall after a 79-68 loss to Christopher Newport on November 30. The Seahawks defeated Salisbury 81-79 in overtime during their last meeting on December 6, 2024, at MPOARC Arena.
The victory marks St. Mary’s College’s highest scoring output since a 102-72 win over Penn State Abington on February 8, 2023. It also continues a trend of strong home performances, with the Seahawks holding a 2-1 record at MPOARC Arena this season entering the game. Gallaudet’s visit was the first between the teams since St. Mary’s College joined the United East, highlighting the conference’s geographic diversity spanning from Baltimore to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The conference schedule resumes for St. Mary’s College on January 3 against Penn State Berks, part of a 20-game slate leading to the United East Championship Tournament in February. The top six teams qualify, with semifinals and finals hosted by the highest seed. Last season’s champion, Penn State Harrisburg, defeated La Roche 74-53 in the final on February 24, 2025, earning an NCAA bid.
This win positions St. Mary’s College for a competitive season in a conference where parity has increased with new members like Saint Elizabeth University and Wilson College. Gallaudet aims to build on individual efforts like Ortman’s as it faces Penn State Abington on December 6.
