The SUNY Old Westbury men's basketball team turned the calendar to 2026 with a 76-64 loss to Merchant Marine in Skyline Conference play. The loss sets the Panthers at 2-10 and 0-2 in league play while USMMA improves to 4-7 (1-1 Skyline).

Joel Ofori led Old Westbury with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. Jermaine King Jr. followed with 13 points, three assists, and two steals. Imole Akinwale rounded out the top scorers with 10 points. 

The game started in favor of the Panthers, who shot over 50 percent from the field. Baskets from Ofori, Yigit Balta, and Stephon Rosch Kouassi helped OW pull in front, 13-7 in the opening six minutes. Back-to-back three-pointers from Akinwale and King doubled the Panthers' lead to 12, 23-11, midway through the half. 

The Mariners' offense sparked in the latter 10 minutes of the first half, responding with four unanswered three-pointers to tie the contest at 23. Baskets from Balta and Ofori would regain a two-possession lead for the Panthers, but USMMA would miss just five field goals in the final five minutes to come within two, 33-31, at the break.

The home Mariners were nearly unstoppable in the second half, shooting at nearly 60 percent from the field while limiting the Panthers to just 35 percent. 

Old Westbury will return to the Clark Athletic Center on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 pm against St. Joseph's University Brooklyn.