The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team saw its 2025-26 season end in the first round of the United East Conference Tournament with an 80-71 loss to Keystone College on February 18, 2026, at the Michael P. O’Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena in St. Mary’s City.
The No. 7 seed Seahawks (10-14 overall) hosted the No. 10 seed Giants (8-18), but Keystone pulled away in the second half after a competitive opening period filled with ties and lead changes. St. Mary’s built early advantages, including a six-point lead twice in the first half, and held a 36-30 edge with 1:46 left before halftime. Keystone countered with an 8-0 run, capped by a dunk from Ahmodrion Jones, to take a 38-36 lead into the break. The Giants turned 12 first-half turnovers by the Seahawks into 17 points and dominated the paint 28-18.
St. Mary’s regained momentum early in the second half with back-to-back three-pointers from first-year guard Khairi Hyde to lead 42-40. The game stayed tight, with senior captain JD Salo tying it at 56-56 on an old-fashioned three-point play at 10:03. Keystone then erupted with a 10-2 surge over the next four minutes, sparked by Jones, to build a lead they never surrendered. The Seahawks closed to within six at 70-64 with 4:15 remaining but could get no closer.
First-year forward Evan Quintero led the Seahawks with a career-first double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, plus two blocks. Hyde and senior captain Jake Koverman each scored 11 points; Hyde added four assists and two rebounds, while Koverman grabbed seven boards and handed out three assists. St. Mary’s won the rebounding battle 48-35, with Quintero pulling down a career-best 10 boards for the second time this season.
The Seahawks shot .419 from the field (13-of-31 in each half) but struggled at the free-throw line (12-of-26) and committed 21 turnovers that Keystone converted into 31 points. Keystone shot .500 overall, led by Jden Golding’s game-high 29 points and Jones’ 22.
The loss concluded a season in which St. Mary’s secured a tournament berth with a late push, including a 68-64 win over Penn State Berks on February 10 that clinched their spot. The team entered the postseason after a 68-74 regular-season finale loss at Penn State Brandywine on February 14. St. Mary’s drew local talent from Southern Maryland and nearby areas, with players like Salo (Dunkirk), Koverman (Severna Park), and others contributing throughout the campaign.
Keystone advanced to face higher seeds in the tournament bracket. For the Seahawks, the focus now shifts to offseason preparation under their coaching staff.