Farmingdale State - 71, Old Westbury - 65
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Trailing 65-62 with 2:45 remaining, Farmingdale State closed the game on a 9-0 run to earn a 71-65 victory over Old Westbury this evening in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams improved to 10-4 overall (6-1 Conf.), while the Panthers fell to 9-5, 5-2.
After being tied 4-4 in the opening minutes, the Rams used a 20-6 run to take a 24-10 lead with 8:40 remaining in the first half. Old Westbury cut the deficit to eight, 26-18, on back-to-back 3-pointers by junior guards Floyd Leroy (Spring Valley, N.Y.) and Ray Parker (Bronx, N.Y.). Farmingdale State took a 35-26 lead into the break after junior guard Justin Bailey (Jamaica, N.Y.) had a team-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc. The Panthers were led by Leroy who scored 15 points and had five boards in the half.
Old Westbury started the second half on an 18-1 run and led 44-36 with 13:58 left on the clock. After the Rams tied the game at 48-48, Parker connected on a 3 and Old Westbury hit a layup to go back ahead by five.
Trailing 62-58 with 3:38 remaining, Farmingdale State senior center Donald Lawes (Queens, N.Y.) scored and converted at the line to complete the three-point play to pull the Rams within one. The Panthers went ahead by three before Farmingdale State closed the game on a 9-0 to earn the 71-65 victory.
Lawes recorded a double-double with a career-high 20 rebounds and 13 points, while Bailey tallied a team-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Old Westbury was led by Parker who had a game-high 22 points and Floyd who scored 17 and added eight boards.
The Rams next will host St. Joseph's in a Skyline Conference game on Thursday, January 23rd at 8:00 p.m.
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