SALISBURY, Md.  - The Salisbury University men's basketball team trailed by as many as nine points in the second half but battled back to pull within three points with 10 seconds left but time ran out on the Sea Gull comeback on Wednesday evening before 257 at the Maggs Center. Capital Athletic Conference foe St. Mary's (Md.) College escaped with a four-point win, 73-69.

St. Mary's (6-2, 2-1 CAC) turned Salisbury's (2-7, 0-2 CAC) 20 turnovers into 21 points as the Seahawks tallied 13 steals. SMC's Alex Franz came off the bench to collect a game-high six steals. Franz added six points, four rebounds and three assists.

Salisbury was led by senior guard Gary Ward who finished with 20 points and was 6-of-11 from behind the three-point line. Sophomore Greg Palmer added 15 points and junior Brandon Abney scored 12 points to go with a team-high six rebounds to aid in the Sea Gull effort.

SMC controlled the paint as it outscored SU, 46 to 22, as the duo of Alex Irmer and Calvin Wise combined for 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Seahawks also outscored Salisbury on fast breaks (10-2) and the SMC bench scored 27 points to Salisbury's 13.

This is Salisbury's second loss to St. Mary's this season as the Sea Gulls have lost six straight. The first matchup between the Sea Gulls and Seahawks happened in the 3rd/4th place game of the Pride of Maryland tournament on November 25 when the Seahawks won, 94-81.

The maroon and gold will remain in conference as they host York (Pa.) College on Saturday at 4 p.m.