Box Score Kings Point, N.Y. (January 29, 2014) – The Drew men's basketball team (9-9, 3-4) dropped its ninth game of the season this evening to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (8-10, 3-5), 91-77 in Landmark Conference action. The Rangers are 3-4 in league play, sitting in the fourth spot in the conference.

Sophomore Mike Klinger (Franklin Park N.J./Rutgers Preparatory School) continued his scoring streak leading the Rangers with 24 points in 38 minutes of action. Klinger was a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe, taking his season average to 91%. Senior John Ford (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) also scored 24 points for the Rangers in the loss. Ford grabbed four rebounds in 35 minutes of play for Drew in the defeat.

Merchant Marine jumped out to an early 17-6 lead with 12:39 left in the first half, behind nine points from sophomore George Hatzioannides. Drew would counter with a run of their own, outscoring the Mariners 23-12 over the next 10 minutes. The Rangers pulled even at 29-29 with 1:49 remaining in the first half on a Ford three-pointer. Merchant Marine scored the final six points of the half taking a 35-29 lead into the half.

Drew opened the half with a good three-pointer from Klinger cutting their deficit to three. USMMA would go on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes taking a 46-32 lead with 16:03 left in the game. Midway through the half Merchant Marine hit a three-pointer and would draw a foul and convert on the line making the rare four-point play.

The Mariners were led by George Hatzioannides who scored a career-high 27 points in the win. Zach Karczewski scored 15 points for Merchant Marine shooting 6-11 from the field.

The Rangers continue Landmark play on Saturday February 1, as the travel to Selinsgrove, Pa. to take on Susquehanna. Drew defeated Susquehanna, 64-63 in Baldwin Gym in the first meeting between the two teams.