Box Score

Bronx, NY – The Lehman College men's basketball dropped their season opener to borough rival Maritime 85-83.  The Lightning had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but a three pointer was  off the mark. 

Three members of the squad tallied double figures.  Andrew Utate paced the team with 18 points.  Ed Pasquale and John Brens added 17 and 10 points respectively.

The Lightning owned an 8 point lead (39-31), their biggest of the night after Brens hit a lay-up with 1:34 to play in the first half.  However, the Privateers went on a 7-0 run to end the half. The first ten minutes of the second half was a back and forth affair.  Leading 63-62, Maritime went on a 10-0 run over a four minute span to take control of the game.  The Lightning battled back to cut the deficit to two (79-77) after Pasquale drained a three-pointer with 2:49 remaining.  A Brens traditional three-point play with just over a minute showing on the clock cut the lead to one, 81-80.  Another traditional three point play by Brens knotted the score at 83 with 22 seconds to play.  Patrick MacDonald made of pair from the charity stripe with three second remaining for the margin of victory.  MacDonald led the way for the Privateers with a double double.  The All Skyline Conference player scored 27 points while grabbing 13 rebounds.

Despite shooting 49% from the field and 43% from behind the arc, the Lightning only converted 9 of 19 free throws.  Lehman was also out-rebounded 39-29.

The Lightning will look for their first victory this weekend at the Vassar Tournament.  Lehman will battle Johnson State on Friday night.