Farmingdale State - 82, Maritime - 76
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State men's basketball team remained undefeated in Skyline Conference play Wednesday night, holding off SUNY Maritime College for an 82-76 road victory. The Rams improved to 12-2 overall and 5-0 in conference action, while the Privateers dropped to 7-7, 3-2.
FSC held a 20-19 advantage and outscored Maritime 25-10 over the final 8:38 of the first half to take a commanding 45-29 lead. Sophomore guard
Jordan Tucker (Elmont, N.Y.) opened the run with a pair of free throws, and junior forward
Kentrell Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) followed with a layup in the paint off an assist from senior guard
Sean Conroy (Staten Island, NY) to make it 24-19. After a Privateers free-throw, the Rams then scored 10 straight points, including six from junior forward
Liam Buckley (Manhasset, N.Y.), to go ahead by 14 at 34-20. Senior guard
Michael Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.) closed the half with a 3-pointer as the Rams took the 45-29 lead into the break.
After Buckley opened the second half with a layup to give FSC an 18-point advantage, eight consecutive points by Maritime quickly cut the gap to just 10, 47-37.
The Privateers chipped away and trailed 63-58 with eight minutes remaining and used back-to-back jumpers and a 3-pointer to take the lead at 65-63.
Farmingdale State responded with baskets by Buckley and Tucker to regain the lead, 67-65.
Maritime was still down by two, 72-70, before a 3-pointer put them ahead with 3:13 on the clock. After a timeout, Buckley tallied a layup to give the Rams a one-point edge and Tucker knocked down two free-throws to go up 76-73.
FSC forced a turnover on the Privateers' next possession and Conroy hit two free-throws to go ahead by five, 78-73, with 1:29 to play.
Maritime cut their deficit to three, 79-76, with 18 seconds remaining, but three free-throws down the stretch sealed the 82-76 win for FSC.
Buckley led the Rams with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding six rebounds and a steal, while Evans recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Notias finished with 16 points and seven assists, Conroy added nine points and seven assists, and Tucker contributed 10 points off the bench.
Farmingdale State next travels to play Manhattanville on Saturday, January 17th at 1:00 p.m.
