Farmingdale State - 67, Mount Saint Vincent - 58
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Senior guard Liam Monaghan (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.) scored 15 points in the second half, including 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, to lead the Farmingdale State men's basketball team to a 67-58 Skyline victory over The College of Mount Saint Vincent this afternoon. Prior to the game, FSC seniors Monaghan and Eriq Williams (Valley Stream, N.Y.) were each honored for senior day as they were playing in their final regular season game.
The Dolphins (15-10, 13-7 Skyline) started quickly as they jumped out to a 16-2 advantage less than five minutes into the contest. During the run, CMSV seniors Jose Maestre (Bronx, N.Y.) and Andrew Curiel (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied six points each. After a Kyle Beeson (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) layup cut the Rams (18-7, 16-4 Skyline) deficit to 12, a 3 by freshman guard Makai Johnson (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) put the Dolphins in front 19-4 with 11:30 remaining in the half.
Leading 24-13, Mount Saint Vincent would use a 7-1 run to take a 31-14 advantage. FSC outscored the Dolphins 7-2 over the final 1:42 of the first half as they went into the break trailing by 12, 33-21.
CMSV jumped out to an 18-point lead after using an 8-2 run over the first 2:29 of the second half. The Rams would respond with a 14-0 run, including 3's by Monaghan, junior guard Matthew Graham (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and sophomore guard Chaz Platt (Jamaica, N.Y.), to close within just four, 41-37. After Dolphins' senior guard Matthew Sowah (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit 1-of-2 at the free-throw line, Monaghan and Graham connected on back-to-back 3's to give FSC their first lead of the game at 43-42.
With 4:20 left and Mount Saint Vincent trailing by two, Curiel was fouled and hit both at the line to tie the score at 54-54. On the next FSC possession, junior forward George Riefenstahl (Bayport, N.Y.) knocked down a jumper to regain a two-point lead.
Still leading by two, 58-56, with 1:38 left, Monaghan and Graham would combine to go 9-for-10 at the free-throw line to seal the conference win, 67-58. Farmingdale State outscored Mount Saint Vincent 46-25 in the second half.
Monaghan totaled 19 points, five rebounds and two assists for the Rams, while Riefenstahl recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to go along with a season-high four blocks and three steals.
Mount Saint Vincent was led by Curiel's team-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, while Maestre finished with 17 points and six rebounds.
FSC enters the Skyline playoffs as the #1 seed and have earned home court advantage and a First Round bye. The Rams await their semifinal opponent which will be held on Thursday, February 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
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