Purchase - 63, Farmingdale State - 55
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Purchase trailed 28-20 at the break and outscored Farmingdale State 43-27 in the second half to earn the 63-55 victory this afternoon. The Farmingdale State men's basketball team fell to 5-8 overall and 5-3 in the Skyline Conference, while the Panthers improved to 7-7, 5-4
Trailing 16-12 with 8:10 remaining in the first half, Farmingdale State sophomore guard Liam Monaghan (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) converted all three free-throws at the line after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to cut the Rams deficit to one. After a missed 3-pointer on Purchase's next possession, Monaghan connected on a 3 to put FSC ahead, 18-16.
The Rams went into halftime leading by eight, 28-20, as Monaghan and sophomore guard Trey Kinard (Deer Park, N.Y.) each had six first half points.
FSC held a 47-42 advantage with 7:25 remaining, before Purchase used an 11-0 run over the next 3:51 to take their largest lead of the game at 53-47. Monaghan hit a jumper the next time down the floor for the Rams but the Panthers answered with a pair of Taylor Foster (Greenburgh, N.Y.) free-throws and a Creig Graves (Harlem, N.Y.) jump shot to go ahead 57-49 with 2:00 left on the clock.
With 1:38 remaining, Kinard hit a pair of technical free-throws to cut the Rams deficit to 57-52. FSC would only close within four points down the stretch as they fell, 63-55.
Monaghan finished with 13 points and six assists, while Kinard scored 11 points for Farmingdale State.
The Panthers, who shot 18-for-22 from the line in the game, were led by Foster's game-high 18 points.
The men's basketball team will now travel to St. Joseph's-LI for a Skyline Conference game on Tuesday, January 12th at 8:00 p.m.
*****