Farmingdale State 89, Old Westbury 81

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OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. | Trailing by four points in the final six minutes, the Farmingdale State College men's basketball team used four 3-point field goals inside a 2:26 stretch to pick up an 89-81, Skyline Conference victory at SUNY Old Westbury on Wednesday evening – clinching the top seed in next week's eight-team conference championship in the process. Junior guard Michael Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.) led the FSC charge with a career-high 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including a 6-of-8 night from behind the 3-point line.

The Rams (16-8, 13-2 Skyline), who wrap up their regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, now has home-court advantage throughout the Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Championship. Quarterfinal play gets underway Tuesday (Feb. 25), with semifinal and final play scheduled for Feb. 27 and March 1, respectively. Further information about seedings and pairings will be announced after the conclusion of Saturday night's conference schedule.

With Old Westbury (10-13, 5-10) holding a 39-38 lead at halftime, FSC received the first four points of the second half on a 3-pointer and free throw by sophomore forward Liam Buckley (Manhasset, N.Y.). After Farmingdale State increased their lead to 52-48 on a dunk by fellow sophomore Kentrell Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at the 14:29 mark, the host Panthers went on a 10-0 run, taking a 58-52 edge with 11:02 to play. The Rams leveled the score at 59-all on a tip-in by freshman James Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.) with 8:48 left, before Old Westbury hit a 3-pointer in its next offensive possession to restore its lead.

OW upped its lead to 66-62 at the 6:42 mark, with Buckley starting the 3-point parade 42 seconds later to cut FSC's deficit to one. After the Panthers scored a pair at the free-throw line on their next possession, Michael Notias scored the next nine points of the game on three long-range efforts, with his last trey placing the Rams ahead at 74-68 with 3:34 to go. Old Westbury could get no closer than a three-point margin, as the two-time defending champions hit 15-of-18 shots at the free-throw line over the final 2:39 to secure the top seed in the Skyline tourney for the fourth-consecutive season. 

Evans finished the night with 14 points and nine rebounds, while James Notias (seven rebounds) and Buckley each scored 13. Senior point guard Jevon Santos (Elmont, N.Y.) contributed six points and five turnover-free assists, while classmate and forward Hamdel Mohammed (Bronx, N.Y.) registered seven points, nine boards and two blocked shots off the bench.