Box Score

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Mount Saint Mary College held off a second-half run from Farmingdale State College to earn a 70-61 win in Skyline Conference action on Saturday.  The Knights (18-7, 14-4 Skyline) earned the third seed in next week's conference tournament, while the Rams (18-7, 14-4 Skyline) will serve as the fourth seed.

The Knights wrapped up a strong first half effort with a 7-0 run and carried a 37-21 advantage into the locker room.  The key play during the run was a fastbreak three-point play from junior Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) at the 2:27 mark.

In the second half, Mount Saint Mary would lead by as many as 17 in the early going, but Farmingdale closed to within eight with a 9-0 run.  Then, when senior AJ Matthews (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made one-of-two at the line with 5:23 remaining, the Rams were within five, 52-47.

On the ensuing possession for the Knights, Howell found senior Lenny Ragaglia (Staten Island, N.Y.) in the corner and Ragaglia promptly swished his three-point attempt to push the lead back to eight.  The triple sparked an 8-0 run for the Knights, capped by another Ragaglia three at the 3:24 mark that made it 60-47, Knights.  The Rams would get no closer than nine over the game's final minutes, allowing the Mount to claim a 70-61 victory.

Howell finished with a team-high 15 points, while junior Joe Henain (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) added 14 points and nine rebounds.  Ragaglia hit on 4-of-8 from downtown for 12 points and junior Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) also reached double figures with 11.

After being held scoreless in the opening half, Matthews recorded 19 second half points for the Rams.  He also added a game-high 16 rebounds.  Sophomore Justin Bailey (Jamaica, N.Y.) and senior Christian Nunez (White Plains, N.Y.) each pitched in with 10 points.

The Rams held a 53-29 edge on the glass, including 20 offensive boards, but suffered from 23 turnovers.  Both teams shot 22-for-58 (37.9-percent) from the field.

The third-seeded Knights will host sixth-seeded Yeshiva University in the Skyline quarterfinals on Tuesday.  Fourth-seeded Farmingdale hosts fifth-seeded Sage.