FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The Maritime basketball team fell on the road to Skyline Conference-leading Farmingdale by an 80-75 score from the Lynch Sports Center on Tuesday evening.

The Privateers trailed by a 16-point margin with 10:56 left in the second half, but were able to stay composed and surged back with a 19-3 run to even the game at 63 with 6:55 remaining in regulation. Maritime held a two-point lead with just over five minutes to go, but Farmingdale was able to close out the game on an 11-4 run to escape with the 80-75 victory.

Maritime was led by junior Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), who picked up his 12th double-double of the season with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Senior Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) was second on the team with 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-13 beyond the arc. MacDonald also led with three blocks, while fellow junior John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) led the team with five assists

Liccese along with junior Tim McQuail (Middle Village, N.Y./Cathedral Prep) and freshman Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) each had eight points on the night, while Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) rounded out the scoring with four points while adding three assists on the matchup.

The game opened with a layup from Farmingdale before Hoch knocked down a three-pointer from the left elbow to give Maritime a one-point lead. The Rams scored the next six points before Liccese connected on a pair from the line to end the rally. Farmingdale eventually worked up a nine-point lead at 27-18 with 6:13 left in the opening stanza.

MacDonald connected on four consecutive free throws to cut the deficit back down to five. The Rams closed out the half on a 10-4 run to take a 39-28 lead into the halftime break.

Hoch opened the second half with a three-pointer, and then after a Farmingdale layup, Hoch dropped another three-ball to get Maritime back within seven with 2:04 gone by in the second half. Farmingdale moved ahead by its largest lead of the game with a 19-10 run to take a 60-44 advantage on the scoreboard with 11:16 to go in regulation.

Liccese got Maritime's rally started with a layup, while adding the ensuing free throw for a three-point play. MacDonald scored the next four points to get Maritime within single digits, before McQuail dropped a three-pointer to cut the lead to six.

MacDonald and McGovern were both fouled and combined to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line to pull the Privateers within a basket. After a single free throw from Farmingdale, Liccese knocked down a key corner three-pointer off a pass from McGovern to even the game ta 61 with 8:03 left in the matchup.

Maritime was able to tie the game at 63 and again at 65 before McGovern connected on a layup to put the Privateers ahead by a 67-65 score with 6:04 to go in regulation. Farmingdale played catch-up on the ensuing possessions, as the Rams were able to even the score at 67, 69, and 71 with fewer than five minutes to go.
 
Fouls proved to be costly for Maritime down the stretch as the Rams hung around and closed out the contest on a 11-4 run to pick up the victory over the Privateers.

Maritime (8-10, 3-6 Skyline) will return to Skyline North Division play on Thursday evening, when the Privateers visit the Sarah Lawrence Gryphons on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y.

Farmingdale (15-5, 11-0 Skyline) will take its unblemished league mark into Skyline South Division action against Mount St. Vincent at 12 p.m. from the Lynch Sports Center on Long Island.