Parra Grabs SJC Record 22 Rebounds as Maritime Sails Away From Men’s Basketball

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. — Sophomore Aaron Parra (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) 15 points and 22 rebounds to lead three Bears scoring in double figures, but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball suffered a 73-67 defeat in Skyline Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Parra's 22 rebounds broke the previous single-game record of 21 set in December 2010 by Donald Coleman and are the most on record, with formal records beginning in the 2002-03 season.

The Basics

• Final Score: Maritime 73, St. Joseph's 67
• Records: Maritime (8-9, 3-5), St. Joseph's (4-14, 1-9)
• Location: Throggs Neck, N.Y.
• Arena: Riesenberg Hall Gym
• SJC Starters: Willis (G), Giles (G), Sirakis (G), Parra (F), Meiner (F) 

Turning Point

• Maritime scored the first 10 points of the second half to balloon a one-point lead to double digits and the Bears could never fully close the gap.

How it Happened

• A hotly contested first half saw six ties and 11 lead changes, neither squad ahead by more than six points and Maritime clinging to a one-point lead at the intermission, 29-28. Both squads struggled in the opening half with the Bears shooting just 29 percent (11-38) while the Privateers finished a tad ahead at 30 percent (9-30).
• Maritime scored the first 10 points of the second stanza and opened on a 13-2 run to balloon their lead to 12. But that would be the largest separation of the game as the Bears whittled a double-digit deficit down to three on two different occasions in the half, but couldn't overtake the Privateers.
• The Bears trailed by 11 at the 3:37 mark and a conventional three-point play from Christian Giles with 30 ticks left pulled them back within three. But unable to get a stop on the opposite end, Maritime made all six of their attempts from the charity stripe to maintain their distance.

For the Bears

• Sophomore Aaron Parra had 15 points with 22 rebounds (17 defensive) for his third career double-double.
• Senior Christian Giles netted 10 points and grabbed a pair of boards before fouling out late in the second. It was his first game this season without recording an assist.
• Freshman Dimitri Sirakis also chipped in 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and pulled down four caroms.
• Freshman Kavan Meiner added nine points and five rebounds, along with a team-high two seteals.

Inside the Box Score

• Behind Parra's 22 rebounds and Sebastien Etheart's 12 boards, the Bears won the rebounding battle 55-45.
• St. Joseph's controlled paint scoring, 30-16, and second-chance scoring, 12-5.
• The Bears struggled from the free-throw line connecting on just 55 percent (11-20) while the Privateers sank 81 percent (17-21).
• Patrick MacDonald led four Privateers in double figures with a 15-point, 19-rebound double-double, four blocks and three steals.

The Bear Facts

• Maritime snaps a Bears three-game streak in the series and closes the St. Joseph's lead to 5-3.
• The Bears extend their longest skid of the season to five games.

Next up for St. Joseph's

The Bears will wrap up play against the Skyline North Division returning to action on Tuesday, January 31st for a 7:30 p.m. tilt at Sarah Lawrence College. Live stats and video are available at SJCBears.com.