Box Score

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – For the second time in a week, Mount Saint Mary College lost a heartbreaking game to Farmingdale State College, this time in overtime by a final score of 89-86 in Thursday night's Skyline Conference semifinal contest.  The Rams (21-5) advance to Saturday's championship game against Purchase, while the Knights (20-7) will await a potential ECAC selection.

After conceding the opening bucket of overtime, the Knights answered with the next six and when sophomore Chris Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) made a pair of free throws with 2:57 to play, the Mount led 84-80.  Farmingdale answered with the next five points, however, and a tip-in from freshman Ibrahim Johnson (New York, N.Y.) gave the Rams an 85-84 edge.

Senior Kevin Milella (Floral Park, N.Y.) was fouled on the ensuing possession and made a pair of free throws to make it 86-85, Knights, with 50 seconds to play.  But Farmingdale senior AJ Matthews (Brooklyn, N.Y.) collected an offensive rebound on the next trip down, was fouled, and made a pair of free throws to recapture the lead.

A three-pointer from Mount sophomore Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) was off the mark with 13 seconds to play and Matthews collected the rebound.  Milella fouled Matthews with 11 seconds remaining, and the junior sunk both attempts to give Farmingdale an 89-86 lead.  Howell got an open look on the final possession, but his three-pointer wouldn't go.  A follow-up attempt from Howell also missed, allowing Farmingdale to claim a three-point win.

Milella led the Knights with 23 points on 9-of-13 from the field, while Howell tallied 20 points and four assists.  Sophomore Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) added 17 points on 7-of-12 from the floor and senior Carlos Valdez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals.

Matthews posted huge numbers for the Rams, finishing with 35 points on 11-of-22 from the field and 13-of-17 at the line.  The junior also grabbed 29 rebounds, blocked three shots, and claimed four steals.  Senior Dyshaun Flournoy (Brentwood, N.Y.) had 23 points, while senior Josh Smith (Deer Park, N.Y.) added 16.

The Knights certainly had their chances in regulation and led by 11 points with six minutes remaining.  Farmingdale crawled back into the game and a three-pointer from Flournoy with 1:50 to play brought the Rams to within two (75-73).  Milella answered with a three-point play at the 1:30 mark to make it 78-73, but Farmingdale still wouldn't quit.  Matthews banked home a layup with 1:18 to play, and after a Mount miss, Farmingdale junior Christian Nunez (White Plains, N.Y.) drained a three-pointer to tie the game.  Both teams missed potential game-winning triples inside of the final 15 seconds, forcing overtime.

Second-seeded Farmingdale will host fourth-seeded Purchase College, an upset winner over St. Joseph's College in the conference's other semifinal.