WATERVILLE, Maine – Maine Maritime men's basketball traveled to Thomas College this afternoon for the first conference matchup of the 2022-2023 season. Led by first-year guards, Connor Tuerff (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and Josiah Dancy (Orlando, Fla.) with 17 and 16 points, respectfully, the Mariners defeated Thomas in a hard-fought game, 81-76.
 
How it Happened: The game started with back-and-forth action with neither team getting ahead by more than one or two points in the first eight minutes of the contest. However, the Terriers went on a run and the deficit facing the Mariners was as great as 11 with 1:37 remaining in the half. Going into the half, the Mariners were down 31-39.
 
The led the Mariners had to overcome stuck with them well into the half. After clawing their way back into the game and a layup from Malachi Reincke (Houston, Texas), the Mariners were within two with 9:35 remaining. The Mariners then scored 10 unanswered points and never looked back. Sealing the game with free-throws, the Mariners won 81-76 in the first conference game of the season.
 
Inside the Numbers:

• Tuerff shot 8-8 from the foul line and scored 17 points with one assist.
• Dancy contributed 16 points three rebounds, one assist, and one steal
• Reincke tallied 15 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
• Six Mariners were in double figures.
• James Phelan and Kory Winch led Thomas with 19 points and 8 rebounds each.
• The Mariners shot 38% from the hardwood and 30% from three point land, while Thomas College shot 43.1% from the floor and 19.2% from three point land.

 
Up Next: After today's win, the Mariners improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Thomas College falls to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in conference. The Mariners travel next to Augusta for another non-conference matchup against University of Maine-Augusta on Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30pm.