NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Mount Saint Mary College sophomore
Carlos Valdez (Slate Hill, N.Y.) recorded game-highs with 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Blue Knights defeated the College of Mount Saint Vincent, 66-58, in Skyline Conference action on Thursday evening. It was the second win in a row for the Mount (3-4, 2-0 Skyline) and the first loss of the season for the Dolphins (2-1, 1-1 Skyline).
Trailing by ten (60-50) with under four minutes to play, the Dolphins ripped off an 8-0 run to get back within two. Junior Dino Johnson (Amsterdam, N.Y.) drained a three-pointer with 1:39 to play, capping the run. Mount Saint Mary didn't panic and answered on the ensuing possession. Freshman
Lenny Ragaglia (Staten Island, N.Y.) stroked a triple from twenty-three feet to give the Blue Knights a five point advantage (63-58) with sixty-five seconds to play.
Sophomore
Kevin Milella (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Valdez blocked shots on the next Dolphin possession and the Blue Knights salted the game away at the free throw line.
The Blue Knights took a six-point lead (40-34) into the locker room, but Mount Saint Vincent used a 9-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half to take a 48-47 advantage with 13:27 to play. Mount Saint Mary responded with a 13-2 run, closed out by a three-pointer from junior
Chuck Magos (Port Jervis, N.Y.), to seize a 60-50 lead.
Valdez shot just 6-for-18 from the floor, but was much improved at the free throw line, making 8-of-12 attempts. The sophomore was a monster on the glass, with 6 of his 11 boards coming at the offensive end. Ragaglia totaled 13 points, connecting three times from long range.
Mount Saint Vincent freshman George Naldjieff (Miami, Fla.) led the Dolphins with 12 points. Johnson finished with 11 points, but shot just 4-for-17 from the field. It was a poor all-around shooting night for Mount Saint Vincent, as they connected at 34.9-percent from the field and were 5-of-27 from downtown.
Mount Saint Mary heads to St. Joseph's College this weekend for a matchup with the Golden Eagles. The game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.
