THROGGS NECK, NY – The Maritime College men's basketball team returned to Riesenberg Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon for a Skyline Conference tilt with Farmingdale.  The Privateers (3-11, 0-8 Skyline) whittled an early Farmingdale lead down to two points, but the Rams (10-7, 6-2 Skyline) never relinquished their advantage en route to a 78-70 victory.

Farmingdale opened up an early 18-2 cushion before Maritime responded with a 17-3 run of its own.  Ryan Donovan (North Salem, NY) had eight points during the spurt, including the layup that cut the Privateers' deficit to 21-19 with 8:32 remaining until halftime.  The Rams countered with a 12-4 rally, though, to push the margin back to 10 points, 33-23, and it was a five-point game, 35-30, at halftime.

In the second half, the Rams again used an early run to push their advantage back to 15 points, 51-36.  Maritime again battled back, getting within five when Donovan's layup made it 54-49 with 10:42 left, but Farmingdale scored 13 of the next 18 points to regain a 13-point lead, 67-54.  The Privateers put together one last spurt to pull within five at 71-66 with 1:10 to go before the Rams closed out a 78-70 win.

Donovan paced the Privateers with 25 points and nine rebounds.  He also distributed four assists.  Donovan is averaging 23.0 points in three games since returning to the lineup after missing three contests due to injury.

Mike Regan (Dix Hills, NY) drained four treys and finished with 14 points, and Robbie Mitchell (Richmond, NY) grabbed five rebounds to go along with 10 points.  Sean Flynn (Flushing, NY) was credited with five of Maritime's seven blocks.  The Privateers shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the floor, but were just 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from downtown and 5-for-8 (62.5 percent) at the charity stripe.

All five Farmingdale starters reached double figures in the scoring column, led by 16 points from Aaron Davis.  Nick Hurowitz tallied with 15 points, while Dominique Senat had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Corey Powell posted 12 points and three assists, and Jevon Santos contributed 10 points, three assists and three steals.  Zamere McKenzie, meanwhile, registered nine points and nine boards off the bench for the Rams, who shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field and outrebounded the Privateers 43-30 (including a 15-5 edge on the offensive glass).  Farmingdale was 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) from three-point range and 21-for-26 (80.8 percent) at the free throw line.

On Tuesday night, the Privateers wrap up non-conference play with a 7 p.m. matchup against Mitchell (6-8).  The game, which will be the first of three in five days for Maritime, was originally scheduled for Nov. 28.