HOBOKEN, N.J. – Freshman guard Brandon Nieves (Harlem, N.Y./All Hallows) scored 24 points – 18 in the first half – to lead Farmingdale State University to an 80-70 win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday night in a Skyline Conference men’s basketball game at the Canavan Arena.
Farmingdale State, which has won nine of its last 10 games, improves to 16-6 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Skyline play. Stevens, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, falls to 11-10 overall and 7-4 in the conference.
Stevens scored the initial basket of the game on a putback by senior forward Dan Jordan (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro), but Farmingdale State countered with the next nine points and never looked back. Freshman guard Peter Lipka (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) put the Rams on top with a 3-pointer and Nieves followed with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to increase the lead to 9-2 just 1:57 into the game.
Nieves, who was 7-for-7 in the first half, scored nine straight Farmingdale points in a span of 3:12 as the Rams extended their lead to double digits. A conventional three-point play by junior forward Kenny McMillan (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows) capped a 12-3 run and gave Farmingdale a 27-9 lead with 11:10 left in the half. The Rams held a 39-24 lead at halftime.
Stevens got as close as nine points on three occasions early in the second half. A baseline jumper by sophomore forward Tim Williams (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) pulled the Ducks within 45-36 with 14:42 left. Farmingdale State answered with nine straight points over the next 2:12 to push its lead back up to 18. The Rams held their largest lead, 67-45, following a steal and layup by McMillan with 7:08 left.
Stevens cut into the lead by forcing nine Farmingdale turnovers in the final five minutes.
Farmingdale State shot 54.0 percent (27-for-50) for the game and made over 50 percent of its shots in each half. The Rams also converted on 7 of 12 attempts from 3-point territory. Farmingdale also held a 38-29 rebounding advantage. McMillan added 13 points and 10 rebounds while junior guard Dashawn Warren (Astoria, N.Y./W.C. Bryant) contributed 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Stevens is back in action on Saturday, February 12, when it travels to Purchase, N.Y. for a 3 p.m. Skyline Conference game against Manhattanville.
