WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Six Seahawks scored in double figures Sunday evening (Dec. 29) as the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team almost eclipsed the century mark in the opening game of the Eastern Connecticut State University Holiday Invitational. St. Mary's College (7-5) dropped a season-best 98 points in a 98-64 non-conference triumph over Hunter College (2-8).
 
Head Coach Chris Harney '97, who is in his 20th season at the helm of the Seahawks, now sits one win away from collecting his 300th career victory. Harney currently owns a 299-205 record for a .593-win percentage.
 
SMCM will now face host Eastern Connecticut State (7-2), a 67-61 winner over Anna Maria College in today's other game, in tomorrow's (Dec. 30) championship game at 2 pm.
 
How It Happened

• SMCM jumped out to a 19-0 lead in the first 5:24 minutes of the game behind 12 points from sophomore guard Kyree Smith (Baltimore, Md./City). Casey Meyers finally put Hunter on the board at 13:23 by making the second of two free throws.
• St. Mary's College continued to roll through first half, posting a 46-30 advantage at halftime behind a blistering .696-field goal percentage at the Seahawks knocked down 16 of 23 field goals. SMCM's biggest lead of the half was a 40-15 margin at 6:39 when junior captain JD Salo (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) finished a layup.
• Hunter was unable to slow down St. Mary's College in the second half as the Seahawks broke the 30-point margin at 4:29 when sophomore guard Ben Kobil (Washington, D.C./Jackson-Reed) drained his first three-pointer of the season to give SMCM a 90-60 lead.

 
Inside the Box Score

• St. Mary's College finished the game with 35-of-57 shooting for a season-best .614-field goal percentage, including connecting on a season-high nine three-pointers for the third time this season and notching a season-best .600-three-point field goal percentage.
• The Seahawks also dished out a season second-best 19 assists and collected a season second-best 10 steals.
• Hunter edged SMCM on the boards, ending the evening with a 42-35 rebounding margin.

 
St. Mary's College Game Notes

• First-year forward Yassine Idrissa (Rockville, Md./Wootton) led the Seahawks with 19 points while tallying five rebounds and two blocks.
• Smith finished the night with 17 points, three assists, three boards, and a season-best two blocks.
• Junior captain Jake Koverman (Severna Park, Md./Southern) contributed 13 points, a team-best seven caroms, and carer-bests of three assists and two steals.
• First-year guard Tjay Beckles (Baltimore, Md./Overlea) added 11 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
• Sophomore guard James Lerner (Herndon, Va./Maret) and first-year guard James Crimaudo (Riva, Md./Annapolis) each chipped in 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers. It was a career-high effort for Crimaudo.

 
Hunter Game Notes

• Sal Saputo paced all players in the game with 24 points and nine rebounds while Jack Meyers tallied 12 points and grabbed six boards.
• The Hawks will face Anna Maria in the consolation game tomorrow at 12 pm.

 
Up Next for the Seahawks

• Dec. 30 vs. at Eastern Connecticut State – Willimantic, Conn. (Geissler Gymnasium) – 2 pm

 
Facebook: StMarysAthletics | Instagram: @smcseahawks, @seahawksmbb
Twitter: @smcseahawks, @SMCM_MBB | Hashtags: #GoSeahawks, #SeahawkPROUD