KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball fell to the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday afternoon, 74-67 at Liebertz Gymnasium.

After jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes, Maine Maritime led for nearly the entire first half, building as much as a nine point lead at 9:08, but Merchant Marine came back to tie the score twice and took a 40-37 lead as time expired on a three-pointer from Preston Padgett.

Merchant Marine held on to lead the entire second half, despite Maine Maritime closing the gap to five with 2:45 remaining.

Sophomore Brendan Newcomb (Holden, Maine) scored a game-high and career-high 27 points, including a perfect nine-for-nine from the line, and two rebounds to lead the Mariners. Sophomore Tyler Thayer (Hermon, Maine) added 12 points, four assists, four rebounds and a steal, and junior Dylan Stevens (Wells, Maine) chipped in with 10 points. Junior Tyler Gilson (Thomaston, Maine) brought down a team-high six rebounds, while adding seven points, two assists and a steal.

Padgett led Merchant Marine with 20 points, eight rebounds and a steal, teammate Matt Miller added 18 points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist and David Smith and Hunter Jones each added 11 points.

Maine Maritime outshot Merchant Marine 46.5 percent to 44.2 percent from the field, and won the battle of the boards (32-29) in a game that had 64 total personal fouls.

The Mariners fall to 1-2 on the season, and will return to action on Tuesday, December 1 when they host Thomas College at 7:30 p.m. for their North Atlantic Conference opener. Merchant Marine improves to 2-1.