USJ Holiday Tournament - Championship Game
Connecticut College - 67, Farmingdale State - 55
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team fell 67-55 to Connecticut College in the Championship Game of the University of Saint Joseph Holiday Tournament on Monday afternoon. The Camels (7-5) trailed at the break and outscored FSC, 46-30, in the second half en route to the Championship.
In the Consolation Game of the tournament the host Blue Jays rolled through Western Connecticut State, 88-69.
Farmingdale State trailed 15-14 midway through the first half and went ahead following back-to-back layups by forwards
Hamdel Mohammed (Bronx, N.Y.) and
Jovayne Walters (Cambria Heights, N.Y.).
FSC took a four-point edge, 25-21, into the second half and extended their advantage with three consecutive free-throws by
Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y.)Â to go up by seven.
The Camels trailed 31-24 before a 10-4 spurt allowed them to cut their deficit to just one. FSC junior guard
Robbie Siechen (Syracuse, N.Y.) halted the run with a 3 as the Rams held a 38-34 advantage with 13 minutes remaining.
Farmingdale State was ahead 51-49 with 6:27 to play before eight consecutive points by Connecticut put them in front, 57-51.
Sophomore forward
Liam Buckley (Manhasset, N.Y.) produced a pair of free-throws with 4:32 on the clock, but six more points by the Camels allowed them to take a 10-point advantage.
The Rams were held to just two more points down the stretch as they fell, 67-55.
Buckley finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block as he earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Sophomore forward
Kentrell Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded 11 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes played, while Conroy and
Michael Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.) chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively.
Elias Espinosa registered 21 points in the win for Connecticut.
FSC will next return home when they take on Skyline Conference opponent St. Joseph's-Brooklyn on Saturday, January 4th at 2:30 p.m.
