BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Justin Caver scored 20 points and the Pratt Institute men's basketball trimmed a 14-point second-half deficit to two, but fell 73-69 to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in their home opener at the Activity Resource Center on Saturday afternoon.
Caver shot 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point land to net his team-high 20. He also dished out six assists and grabbed four rebounds to stuff the stat sheet. Cameron Windt followed with 17 points, draining five triples and two rebounds. Mekhi Davis rounded out three finishing in double-figure scoring with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Quinn McCormick pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and chipped in six points
A close first 20 minutes of play saw Pratt (0-4) shoot 40 percent (10-of-25) led by Windt's 12 points on four triples, but USMMA had 13 more field goal attempts and built a six-point lead headed into the lockers, 35-29 – the largest separation by either team in the half.
USMMA (1-1) used a 9-0 run five minutes into the second half to extend to a 55-41 lead and the Mariners maintained a double-digit advantage until the seven-minute mark when the Caver scored six straight to spark an 8-0 run that trimmed the deficit to five, 62-57. An Ace Bibbs layup with 1:12 to go pulled Pratt within one-possession, 65-63, but saw the rally come up short and the visitors pulled away at the free-throw line. Caver would score 17 of his 20 in the second stanza.
Drew Zalescik scored 22 points to lead all scorers and pace four Mariners in double figures. He also had seven rebounds and five assists.
Pratt plays their second straight at the ARC welcoming Sarah Lawrence College on Tuesday, November 19 with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
