Five Bears in Double-Figures Not Enough for Men’s Basketball at Merchant Marine

KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Stephane Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) totaled 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Sebastien Etheart notched 14 and 12 boards as the brothers picked up simultaneous double-doubles for the third time this season. Three other teammates chipped in 10+ points, but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team fell in an overtime heartbreaker at the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Thursday night.

The Basics

• Final Score: Merchant Marine 83, St. Joseph's 80
• Records: Merchant Marine (9-9, 7-7), St. Joseph's (8-13, 7-9)
• Location: Kings Point, N.Y. — Liebertz Gym
• SJC Starters: Willis (G), Sirakis (G), Etheart (F), Etheart (F), Meiner (F)

Turning Point

• The Ethearts combined for seven-straight points halfway through the second to put SJC up by seven (57-50) for their largest lead of the game, but USMMA answered with eight-straight points of their own to go back ahead by one.

How It Happened

• St. Joseph's was rolling early, as back-to-back triples from captain Alec Willis (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) and two-guard Dimitri Sirakis (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) had them up 10-2 five minutes into the game.
• The hosts didn't give in though, going up by one (18-17) on a Jesse Neloms layup at 8:38. However, SJC junior Joseph Idyahia (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) immediately responded with two three-balls in 30 seconds to put his squad up by five.
• Both sides remained close up to intermission as a Sirakis jumper three seconds before the buzzer gave the Bears a 38-37 edge after one. SJC found their edge at the 10-minute mark in the second as the twins put them up by seven, but the Mariners quickly evened things up again.
• The Bears gained a two-point lead at 7:35 after a Sirakis and-one, and they held the advantage until a Seth Barnes trey with 13 seconds to play. Then, with four seconds on the clock, Stephane drew a foul and headed to the line, hitting both to force OT with the score tied at 72. Unfortunately, SJC never led in the extra period and went on to fall 83-80 in their first meeting of the year with the Mariners.

For the Bears

• Stephane's 19 points and 15 boards were both team highs, and he added a dime and a steal as well. He now has scored in double-figures in nine-straight games (second-straight double-double), and he leads the squad with nine double-doubles.
• Sebastien (14 pts, 12 reb) secured his fourth double-double of the year (second-straight) and his fourth-straight game with double-digit rebounds.
• Sirakis dropped 14 points for his 17th game in double-digits this season.

Inside the Box Score

• The Bears were feeling it from deep (40% 3FG) fueled by Willis' team-high four 3PM (12 pts).
• Idyahia poured in 11 (season high) of his teams' 13 bench points on the night (4-8, 3-7 3FG).

The Bear Facts

• SJC has lost five of their last six (three-straight) and is now on the outside-looking-in of the Skyline playoffs at eighth place.

Next Up for the Bears

• A trip to Yeshiva in a week (Thursday, Feb. 8) for the second of three-straight road games. Tip is set for 8 p.m. with live stats and video at SJCBears.com.