Trailing 41-37 at recess, the Mariners managed just three points with eight minutes elapsed in the second period. Meanwhile, the Eagles had their way with Kings Point, building a 20-point edge before Jimmy Sanders put an end to the bleeding a lay up with 12:01 remaining.
The Mariners appeared to have a gasp left with a 10-0 run sparked by back-to-back three balls by Ray Heal and Sanders and jumpers by Alex Loepker and Jonathan Fassnacht to make it an eleven point deficit.
Both teams would cancel each other out with 7-0 runs, respectively, leaving the Mariners right back where they started facing an 11-point mountain to climb. USMMA would pull no closer.
The first half featured back-and-forth up-tempo action, which pinned the Mariners up by as many as six points, but the Blue & Gray failed to sustain the lead heading into the final four minutes before the break.
Leading the way for the Eagles (10-8, 4-4 Skyline) in the win was point guard Davis Acree with a game-high 22 points. Jorge Martinez chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Phil Lipari and Chris Niblock added 16 and 11 points, respectively.
Loepker paced the Mariners with 18 points, including shooting 5-of-8 from downtown. Sanders added 12, while Zach Wyatt notched 10 points in just 20 minutes of play.
St. Joe’s cashed in on Kings Point’s turnovers scoring 21 points off 18 miscues. The Mariners struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 24-percent (8-of-33).
USMAA (9-8, 4-3 Skyline) returns to action on Monday at Staten Island. Tip off is slated for 7:30 p.m.