MEDIA, Pa. – First-year guard
Korey Blair (Baltimore, Md./Overlea) poured in a game- and career-best 22 points Saturday afternoon (Feb. 14) as the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team clinched the No. 7 seed in the 2026 United East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
St. Mary's College (10-13, 6-7 UEC) was edged 74-68 by Penn State Brandywine (16-9, 11-2 UEC), the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament.
As the No. 7 seed, the Seahawks will host No. 10 seed Keystone College (7-18, 4-9 UEC) in first round action on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Michael P. O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena. Tickets will be $6 for adults and $3 for children, senior citizens, and military (CASH ONLY).
SMCM earned a 67-54 victory over Keystone at MPOARC Arena on Jan. 31 behind 17 points from sophomore
James Crimaudo (Riva, Md./South River).
How It Happened
- Brandywine opened the scoring with an 8-4 push before St. Mary's College put together a 9-2 run to claim its first lead of the game, 13-10, at 13:40 on a Blair triple.
- The Lions reclaimed the lead at 8:23 on a pair of free throws by Jack Swider, capping a 9-4 spurt for a 19-17 Brandywine edge.
- After senior captain Jake Koverman (Severna Park, Md./Southern) knotted the game at 19-all, Brandywine outscored the Seahawks, 14-10, the rest of the way to stake a 33-29 halftime lead. The Lions narrow lead was fueled by nine points off 10 Seahawk turnovers as well as eight second chance points.
- Brandywine came out firing in the second half, building a 17-point lead (65-48) with 5:56 remaining in the game. SMCM continued fighting and used a 20-7 run to pull within 72-68 with 21 seconds left in regulation.
- Ahmaar Godhania sealed the win with two free throws with five seconds on the clock.
Inside the Box Score
- SMCM gained 24 points off 16 turnovers by Berks while scoring 23 fastbreak points.
- St. Mary's College shot 46.9-percent from the field for the game while knocking down 12-of-17 free throws in the second half.
St. Mary's College Game Notes
- Along with his career-best 22 points, Blair also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and added two steals.
- First-year forward Evan Quintero (Fallston, Md./Gilman) nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine boards while first-year guard Khairi Hyde (Gaithersburg, Md./Wootton) contributed 11 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals.
- Koverman finished with 10 points, two caroms, two assists, and two steals.
- First-year forward Tristan Thompson (Urbana, Md./Urbana) came close to a double-double with a game-best 11 rebounds and nine points.
Brandywine Game Notes
- Ja'bri White led the Lions in their seventh straight win with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Godhania finished with 13 points, five boards, and two steals.
Up Next for the Seahawks
- Feb. 18 vs. Keystone (7-18, 4-9 UEC) – St. Mary's City, Md. (MPOARC Arena) – TBA (UEC Tournament First Round)
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