Farmingdale State - 102, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn - 89
Brooklyn, N.Y. - Farmingdale State senior forward George Riefenstahl (Bayport, N.Y.) scored a career-high 37 points on 14-of-19 shooting as the Rams earned a 102-89 victory at St. Joseph's-Brooklyn on Tuesday evening. With the win, the FSC men's basketball team improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference action, while the Bears dropped to 0-3, 0-1.
Tied 25-25 with 7:27 left to play in the first half, Farmingdale State used a quick 8-0 run over the next 1:02 to go ahead by eight. After a pair of Stephane Etheart (Hollis, N.Y.) free-throws with 4:42 on the clock cut the SJC-BK deficit to five, Riefenstahl converted back-to-back shots and two at the line on the Rams' next three possessions to extend the advantage to 43-32.
With 1:31 remaining in the first half and FSC ahead 45-38, junior guard Chaz Platt (Jamaica, N.Y.) was fouled on a 3-point attempt and knocked down all three free-throws to increase the lead to 10. The Rams took a 52-41 advantage into the halftime break after shooting 51-percent (19-for-37) from the field in the first half. Riefenstahl recorded 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting, nine rebounds and two blocks in the first half.
After St. Joe's-Brooklyn cut the deficit to 54-47 early in the second half, Farmingdale State used a 16-6 run over the next 4:23, which saw eight points on a pair of 3's and jumper by junior guard Ryan Kennedy (Maspeth, N.Y.), to extend the lead to 70-53.
Trailing 75-59 with 11:23 on the clock, the Bears poured in 10 straight points, including five from junior guard Matt McQuillen (Staten Island, N.Y.), to close within six. Farmingdale State regained a double-digit advantage just over two minutes later and with 5:41 remaining, Riefenstahl scored on back-to-back possessions to put FSC out in front, 89-74.
The Rams led by at least eight points the remainder of the game en route to the 102-89 win.
To go along with his career-high 37 points, Riefenstahl had game-high's in rebounds (16) and blocked shots (4). Kennedy also notched a career-high with 20 points after hitting six 3-pointers, while junior forward Jermaine Fraser (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and senior guard Ali Mableton (Brentwood, N.Y.) scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Etheart led the way for St. Joseph's-Brooklyn with 21 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
The Rams next travel to #16 New Jersey City for a non-conference game on Saturday, November 24th at 2:00 p.m.
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