Box Score
Purchase, NY
(Feb. 9, 2012) – Missed free throws withstanding, Purchase and Farmingdale State went toe-to-toe Thursday night, with the visiting Rams holding on for a 69-68 victory that both teams struggled to squeeze their grasp around.
Purchase, which missed four key free throws inside the final minute, including two from the usually sure handed
Amar Reynolds (JR/New York, NY), still had a chance to win it at the buzzer. After FSC, which also had its fair share of struggles from the charity stripe, scored the go-ahead basket and missed the free throw on the potential three-point play, the Panthers inbounded and got the ball inside to center
Craig Davis (JR/Queens, NY). Davis' turnaround rolled off the rim at the buzzer as FSC escaped with the narrow victory.
There was never a dull moment between the two programs Thursday night. This was not an easy win for the Rams with the game being tied six times. Farmingdale held Purchase down in the first half until Reynolds erupted for three 3-pointers over a four-minute stretch. Behind Reynolds, the Panthers erased a 10-point deficit.
FSC led 35-30 at break, setting the stage from an exciting second half that was never more than a six-point game.
Justin Person (JR/Greenburgh, NY) led the Panthers with 15 points and eight rebounds, tying the game up twice in the second half. Person delivered a two-point bucket and the continuation at 11:54. The three-point play gave the Panthers their first second-half lead, 47-46.
The second-half comeback stalled, especially at the free-throw line. Purchase shot a meager 69 percent for the game from the line, but it was its 1 of 7 performance down the stretch that may have sealed the loss.
Farmingdale's AJ Matthews, who would foul out inside the last two minutes, carried the Rams with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Reynolds finished with 14 points in the loss.
Josh Smith added 17 points for the Rams in the win.
Purchase, which had its three-game conference win streak snapped, will look to get back on track Saturday at home as CMSV comes to town.
