Farmingdale State 76, Manhattanville 74
PURCHASE, N.Y. | Junior forward
Kentrell Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded his fifth consecutive double-double with 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds Saturday afternoon, as the Farmingdale State College men's basketball team recorded its seventh straight win with a 76-74 victory at Skyline Conference foe Manhattanville University.
Evans shot 10-of-12 from the field on the day for the Rams (13-2, 6-0 Skyline), and was one of three scorers in double figures for the visitors. Sophomore swingman
Jordan Tucker (Elmont, N.Y.) came off the bench to score 14 points and pull down five boards, while senior guard
Michael Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.) added 13 points against the Valiants (8-8, 3-3).
Neither team led by more than six points throughout the afternoon, as the teams were tied on 11 occasions and the lead changed hands nine times. Manhattanville jumped out to a 13-7 lead seven minutes in, before a 3-point field goal by FSC sophomore guard
Michael Spisto (Staten Island, N.Y.) knotted the game at 17-all with 9:41 remaining in the first half. After back-to-back layups by Evans gave the Rams a 27-22 edge at the 5:45 mark, the teams exchanged mini-runs the rest of the way before heading into halftime tied at 33-33.
A five point spurt five minutes into the second half gave the Valiants a 45-40 advantage, before the Rams stopped the spread with consecutive lay-ins by Evans and senior guard
Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y.). Manhattanville later led by a 58-56 count with 7:01 to go, before a pair of Evans layups and one free throw by Tucker inside the next 48 seconds gave Farmingdale State a three-point edge. The hosts went ahead for the final time, 69-68, with 2:05 on the clock following a pair of baskets inside the paint. Conroy pushed FSC ahead for good with a layup at the 1:29 mark, with a conventional 3-point play by Tucker with 1:07 left increasing his team's lead to 73-69. The Rams received one free throw apiece from sophomore
James Notias (Manhasset, N.Y.), Tucker and Conroy (nine points) over the final 37 seconds to hold off Valiants.
Farmingdale State returns home for a Tuesday night (Jan. 20) Skyline Conference game versus Purchase College, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.
