Merchant Marine - 71, Farmingdale State - 53
Kings Point, N.Y. - Senior guard Robbie Kennedy (Spring Lake, N.J.) scored a game-high 25 points for Merchant Marine as the Mariners earned a 71-53 Skyline Conference victory over Farmingdale State in Kings Point, N.Y. on Thursday evening. The FSC men's basketball team drops to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while the Mariners improve to 3-2, 2-1.
The Rams held a 16-9 advantage with 13:39 left in the first before back-to-back Kennedy 3's cut the Merchant Marine deficit to one. Farmingdale State followed with a quick 6-0 run to go in front by seven, 22-15.
USMMA trailed 27-22 with 5:17 remaining and closed the half on a 13-2 run to take a 35-29 lead into the break.
With 16:05 left to play and Merchant Marine ahead 45-40, the Mariners went on a 20-4 run over the next 9:01 to take a commanding, 65-44, advantage with 7:04 remaining.
After sophomore guard Chaz Platt (Jamaica, N.Y.) hit a 3 and junior guard Ali Mableton (Brentwood, N.Y.) tallied a layup to cut the FSC deficit to 16, 65-49, back-to-back 3-pointers by Kennedy and freshman guard James Walsh (Huntington, N.Y.) opened up the Mariners largest lead of the game, 71-49, with only 2:59 left.
The Rams recorded a pair of layups down the stretch but Merchant Marine was able to capture the conference victory, 71-53.
Farmingdale State was led by junior forward George Riefenstahl (Bayport, N.Y.) who tallied 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Mableton and junior guard Matthew Graham (Valley Stream, N.Y.) each registered nine points and two steals in the loss.
Kennedy scored his 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting while also recording three assists and three steals. Sophomore guard Eric Sobocinski (Southampton, N.J.), Walsh and freshman guard Jesse Neloms (Memphis, Tenn.) each tallied 10 points, while senior guard George Hatzioannides (Oakland Gardens, N.Y.) dished out a game-high seven assists for the Mariners.
FSC next travels to conference opponent Purchase College on Saturday, December 9th at noon.
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