THROGGS NECK, NY - The Maritime College men's basketball team knocked off defending champion Farmingdale St. on Saturday afternoon with an 81-73 win in Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium. The win marked the Privateers fourth straight victory as they improved to 9-10 on the season and 5-5 in Skyline action.

Mike Regan (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Anthony's) got Maritime started on offense by scoring the first five points to get the Privateers ahead early. Later in the half, Chris Ruscillo (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) continued his strong play from both games earlier this week and knocked down a three-point shot to make it a 19-15 lead with just over 10 minutes to go. However, as the opening half went on, the Rams shifted the momentum heavily in their favor as they went on a 10-0 run to take a seven-point lead at 31-24.

With four minutes left in the half, Ruscillo was the spark plug for the Privateers once again as he finished an and-one and then Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) rattled off eight straight points to regain the lead. However, with the Privateers back in control of the game, Farmingdale St. knocked a deep and contested three-point shot as time expired to make it a one-point lead for Maritime with both teams heading to the locker room.

Despite the Rams stealing the momentum before halftime, the Privateers defense held strong in the second half and they never relinquished the lead. Farmingdale St. cut it to a one-possession game multiple times, but Maritime had the answer throughout the second half and never let the defending champions retake the lead.

After Farmingdale St. made it a two-point game at 54-52 with 11:33 left to play, the Rams got the defensive stop they needed and had a chance to take the lead with a three-point attempt from Anthony Miller Jr. Luckily, Farmingdale St. couldn't convert the three and after Regan came down with the rebound, Brennan Whelan (Northport, N.Y./Northport) looked up the court and found Jaylin Gray (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth) streaking past the defense for an open fastbreak layup. On the next possession Ruscillo blocked a shot attempt from the Rams and found Ryan Donovan (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem) in transition to make it a six-point lead with 10 minutes left to play. The Privateers second half run continued as Regan drilled a corner three to make it a 7-0 run and a nine-point advantage.

Donovan kept the energy in Riesenberg Gymnasium high as he took a kick-out from Whelan and knocked down a three of his own as the Privateers took a 64-52 lead with eight minutes left. Farmingdale St. cut the advantage to as little as six points, but strong free throw shooting from Maritime sealed the 81-73 win down the stretch.

McGovern and Regan led the Privateers scoring effort with 18 points each, while Gray chipped in 15. Whelan filled the stat sheet once again as he totaled nine points, seven assists and seven steals. Maritime will look to keep the hot streak going on Wednesday night when they travel to Old Westbury at 6 p.m.