PURCHASE, N.Y. – Daniel Marinaccio (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph By The Sea) scored a critical eight points in the final nine minutes to give the Valiants a game-clinching lead in the 61-51 victory over conference opponent, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, on Saturday night at home. The Valiants (9-8) even out at four in conference play, while the Mariners (4-4 SKY) fall to 7-10.

After a consistent back-and-forth battle, Marinaccio drained a three-pointer with under 10 minutes to play in the second half to give his team the push they needed to push ahead of USMMA. Marinaccio put up another from deep, and a jumper before a defensive hustle secured the 61-51 final.  
Scoring throughout was led by Isiah Middleton (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian) with 14, going 4-for-5 inside the arc. He also fronted the stat sheet in rebounds with seven and was one of four Valiants to post a block.
Close behind were John Ranaghan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Carlos Urena (Corona, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy), who both added 12 to the board, as well as taking away three steals respectively. Ranaghan and Antonio Del Vescovo (Mount Olive, N.J./Mount Olive) also contributed to the night's block total.
Marinaccio knocked down 10 throughout the night while Chris Robinson (Bedford-Stuyvesant, N.Y./Westminster School) followed in suit with nine points, a block, six boards, and fronting the team with four assists in his 33 minutes.

Two three-pointers from Ranaghan and one from Urena gave the home team an early 11-3 lead in the first four minutes. USMMA held the slight advantage on their side of the court to battle back, meeting the Valiants at 25. In the last five minutes of the first half, both teams engaged in a defensive battle, with Manhattanville holding a slight lead, 31-28, after the first 20 minutes.
Coming out of the locker rooms, both teams were equal in defense and scoring opportunities. Over the first eight minutes of the second half, five points from Urena gave the Valiants the advantage in a 15-12 run with USMMA fighting to keep the home team within arm's reach 46-40. For the final ten minutes of the game, Manhattanville shut down the Mariners' offense while taking advantage of Marinaccio's eight points to jump out by ten and secure the win, 61-51.

Up Next – The Valiants head to Old Westbury on Thursday, Jan 29, with the tipoff scheduled for 7 PM.