Men's Basketball Drops Skyline Championship Game to Farmingdale

March 1, 2008

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team (22-5) won their second Skyline Conference Championship in three years tonight with a 91-71 victory over St. Joseph's College (21-6). Rams senior forward Brian Robinson (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) was named the Tournament MVP after posting 18 points and six rebounds on 9-of-10 shooting. 

Farmingdale opened up a 17-6 lead just five minutes into the game before St. Joe's used an eight point run to cut the deficit to three, 17-14, with 12:26 left in the half. The Rams held the lead for the rest of the first and went into the locker room holding a 43-32 edge.

In the second half, Farmingdale could not be stopped as they shot 60-percent from the field (15-for-25) to build up the lead to as much as 23 points and take the final 91-71 win. Junior guard Damien Santana (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grady) poured in 18 points in the half, ending with a final of 26 points and seven rebounds.

Senior guard Peter Lipka (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) finished the night with 19 points, hitting 5-of-9 from long range. Sophomore guard Merlin Bass (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) had nine points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals for the night.

St. Joe's was led by senior guard Phil Lipari (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) with 23 points. Senior forward Brandon Freeman (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) registered the games only double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Farmingdale State receives the automatic qualifier with the win and now makes the trip to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, a field of 59 teams from across the country. The bracket for the tournament will be announced by the NCAA (ncaasports.com) on Monday, March 3rd at Noon.

(Courtesy Farmingdale State Sports Information)

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St. Joseph’s Defeats Yeshiva and Heads to Skyline Championship Game

February 29, 2008

Patchogue, N.Y. – St. Joseph’s College defeated Yeshiva University, 73-52, in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Tournament and will play in its first-ever Skyline Championship game at top-seeded Farmingdale State this Saturday at 8:00 pm.  The winner of the Skyline Championship will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  For SJC, it would mark their first-ever trip to the big dance.

In tonight’s game, the second seeded Golden Eagles were led by senior Brandon Freeman’s 16 points.  Sixth seeded Yeshiva was led by Zachary Gordon with a game-high 19 points. 

Also having strong games for the Golden Eagles was freshman Matt Weeks who scored 15 points.  Senior Phil Lipari had a terrific all-around performance with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and seven assists.  Sophomore Sean Hyde had a strong game down low as he scored 12 and grabbed nine boards.

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