TOWSON, Md. - The Salisbury University men's basketball team dropped its second game in two days, a 58-53 defeat at the hands of Johns Hopkins University in the third-place game of the Pride of Maryland tournament hosted by Goucher College. It marks the third straight season the Sea Gulls have come in fourth place in the Pride of Maryland tournament.

The Sea Gulls (1-2) put forth a great effort in the second half to get back into the game, as the Blue Jays (2-1) led 33-24 at the half time break, a nine point advantage. The Blue Jay lead would grow to as much as 12 in the half, but SU worked hard to put itself in a position to win. The Sea Gulls would get as close as one point, with the Blue Jays leading 54-53 after a pair of made free throws by SU sophomore forward Mike Maczko (Bel Air, Md.). The Sea Gulls would not get any closer and Johns Hopkins hit four free throws over the final 15 seconds to take the win and claim third place in the tournament.

SU was led by senior guard Greg Palmer (Salisbury, Md.) and junior center Chris McGrew (Burtonsville, Md.) who each scored 12 points in the contest. Palmer finished with four rebounds, three assists and one steal while McGrew brought down three rebounds, dished out one assist and had one block. Maczko was the only other Sea Gull to reach double-digit point totals, as he chipped in with 11 points. The Bel Air, Md., native was one rebound shy of recording his first double-double in a maroon and gold uniform, as he collected nine rebounds; in addition he dished out a team-high five assists in 37 minutes of action.

The Blue Jays also had three players reach double-digit point totals, as Danny Gergen led the way with a team-high 15 points. Pat O'Connell scored 12 points in 37 minutes of work for the Blue Jays.

The Sea Gulls shot 41.2 percent (21-51) from the field in the contest, including 7-of-18 from behind the three-point arc. Johns Hopkins shot just slightly better from the field at 42.3 percent (22-52) and was 5-of-13 on three-pointers. The Sea Gulls out rebounded the Blue Jays 36-28.

The Sea Gulls will open up their home campaign on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at the Maggs Physical Activities Center in a Capital Athletic Conference contest against Hood College. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.