Box Score BOX SCORE - The Maritime College basketball team couldn't make it two wins in a row on Tuesday night as they fell to Farmingdale St. 85-70. The Privateers came out firing in the opening half, but couldn't sustain the momentum into the second half, where they were outscored 45-36.

Brennan Whelan (Northport, N.Y./Northport) and Michael Walker (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) jump started Maritime's offense as they drained three consecutive three-point shots to take a 9-8 lead with 16:53 remaining in the half. However, the Rams responded and quickly took an 11-point lead, which they held until just over 11 minutes were left in the opening frame. Alec Downes (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) got the energy to swing back in the Privateers favor as he drained a deep three to make it an eight-point game. Walker then found his rhythm again and made back-to-back buckets to bring the lead down to five points.

Following multiple scoreless possessions from both teams, Whelan converted on a tough fast break layup with six minutes left to make it a one possession game. A few minutes later, Nicholas Ovanessian (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) pulled down a crucial offensive board and found Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) who knocked down a jump shot to tie the game at 32 with 3:25 remaining in the half. Unfortunately, Farmingdale St. came up with the big shots down the stretch and was able to take a 40-34 lead into the locker room.

The Rams came out in the second half on fire from behind the arc as Ryan Kennedy couldn't miss in the opening minutes. Kennedy's hot streak allowed the Rams to take a commanding 65-42 lead with just over 13 minutes left in the game. The Privateers continued to try and mount a comeback, but the strong start to the second half was too much to overcome and they couldn't make it back-to-back conference wins after defeating Mount Saint Vincent last Saturday 68-64.

Walker dropped 17 points to lead Maritime in scoring, while McGovern and Whelan also hit double-digits with 16 and 13, respectively. Ovanessian tallied a team-high 9 rebounds to compliment an eight-point performance off the bench.

"Farmingdale is one of the best in the conference and we proved we could compete with them in the first half," said head coach Mike Berkun. "It's disappointing because we couldn't maintain that level in the second half, but we are continuing to get better and grow as a young team and we're hoping to get back in the win column this Saturday."

Maritime will take on USMMA this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Riesenberg Gymnasium. The Privateers defeated the Mariners on the road earlier this season by a score of 57-52.

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