Ramapo - 74, Farmingdale State - 60
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team dropped a non-conference game to Ramapo this afternoon, 74-60. The Rams now stand at 7-4 overall, while the Roadrunners improved to 9-2.
Prior to today's game, the FSC Men's Basketball program hosted their third annual CYO Day which was a clinic for kids of all ages that offered the chance to learn skills and drills from Farmingdale State coaches and players.
Tied at 6-6 only 3:15 into the game, the Rams used a steal and layup from senior guard Ali Mableton (Brentwood, N.Y.) to go ahead by two. Ramapo responded on their next two possessions as senior guard Kashaun Barnes (Toms River, N.J.) was fouled and hit a pair of free-throws and senior forward Rob Lewis (Scotch Plains, N.J.) followed with a layup to go in front, 10-8.
Over the next 8:08, the Roadrunners would use a 17-5 run to take a 14-point advantage, 27-13, with 7:18 left to play in the half. After a quick 7-2 run by the Rams, which featured 3's from both junior guard Ryan Kennedy (Maspeth, N.Y.) and senior guard Matthew Graham (Valley Stream, N.Y.), cut the deficit to nine, Ramapo outscored Farmingdale State 16-5 to close the half and go up 45-25.
FSC opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Kennedy, but back-to-back baskets from Barnes and a layup by junior guard Rob McWilliams (Blauvet, N.Y.) allowed the Roadrunners to take their largest lead of the game, 51-28. FSC quickly answered with a three-point play by senior forward George Riefenstahl (Bayport, N.Y.) and a Kennedy layup to close within 18, 51-33.
Trailing 53-33 with 14:29 remaining, an 8-2 run by the Rams, which saw a pair of 3's from Chaz Platt (Jamaica, N.Y.) and two free-throws from sophomore guard Joseph Santoro (Levittown, N.Y.), cut the deficit to 14.
With 4:18 left in the game and FSC trailing 63-50, Rams' junior guard Kyle Beeson (South Jamaica, N.Y.) and Platt each went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line to close within nine, 63-54. After a Ramapo layup, a 3 from Graham and two free-throws from junior guard Anthony Miller Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y.) cut the FSC deficit to six, 65-59.
On the Roadrunners next possession, junior guard Connor Romano (Old Bridge, N.Y.) was fouled and hit both free-throws to extend the lead to eight. After an FSC miss, Barnes knocked down a pair of free-throws to put Ramapo ahead by 10, 69-59, with 1:44 left.
Ramapo would go 5-for-6 at the free-throw line the rest of way, while holding the Rams to just one point as they went on for the non-conference victory, 74-60.
Farmingdale State was led by Riefenstahl, who tallied a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds to go along with a game-high three blocks. Kennedy finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Graham and Platt had nine points apiece.
Barnes recorded a game-high 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting, while McWilliams and Lewis tallied 18 and 16 points, respectively.
FSC next returns to action on Thursday, January 3rd at 1:00 p.m. when they host Sarah Lawrence for a conference game on Staff and Student Appreciation Day. The event will feature free food and refreshments, giveaways and of course Ram-bo.
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