FREDERICK, Md. – Four Seahawk starters scored in double digits Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16) to lead the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team to their first win of the 2024-25 campaign. St. Mary's College (1-3) picked up an 80-62 victory over Gallaudet University (0-3) in the consolation game of the Battle of D.C. & Maryland.
 
How It Happened

• Brandon Chung connected on the first bucket of the game to give Gallaudet its only lead of the game, 2-0, at 19:46. From there, it was all Seahawks as SMCM outscored the Bison, 30-6, over the next 10 minutes for a 22-point advantage with 9:04 remaining in the first half.
• An old-fashioned three-point play by Blessed Mbogo pulled Gallaudet within 36-25 with 3:49 to go in the half but the Bison couldn't get any closer and St. Mary's College headed into halftime with a 46-33 margin. Sophomore guard James Lerner (Herndon, Va./Maret) paced the Seahawks over the first 20 minutes with 13 points.
• Gallaudet came out firing in the second half, cutting the 13-point halftime deficit down to 61-52 at 10:46 as six different Bison scored in the rally.
• Junior captain Jake Koverman (Severna Park, Md./Southern) bookended an 11-4 run with a two-point jump shot to spark it and a three-pointer to cap it, putting SMCM in front by 16 (72-56) with five minutes left in the game. St. Mary's College never looked back in claiming the 18-point victory.

 
Inside the Box Score

• The Seahawks were lights out in the first half, connecting on 56.3-percent (18-of-32) of their shots. SMCM finished shooting 29-of-60 for the game for a season-best 48.3-field goal percentage.
• Gallaudet earned a 43-39 rebounding margin behind Mbogo's game-high 12 boards.

 
St. Mary's College Game Notes

• Lerner paced the Seahawks with 17 points while adding four assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
• First-year guard Tjay Beckles (Baltimore, Md./Overlea) contributed season-bests of 15 points, four boards, and three steals plus one assist.
• First-year forward Yassine Idrissa (Rockville, Md./Wootton) tallied a season-best 13 points, eight caroms, two assists, and one block.
• Sophomore guard Ree Smith (Baltimore, Md./City College HS) chipped in a dozen points, four rebounds, one block, and one steal while tying a career-high with six assists.

 
Gallaudet Game Notes

• Mbogo led all players with 18 points and 12 caroms while Wyatt Carlson added 11 points off the bench.

 
Up Next for the Seahawks

• Nov. 23 at Stevenson (3-0) – Owings Mills, Md. (Owings Mills Gymnasium) – 3 pm

 
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