Box score

Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's basketball team suffered another frustrating loss as they dropped a 70-66 decision to Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham on Monday night.

The game turned into a free-throw shooting contest as 34 of the game's final 44 points were scored from the line.

The Lions (3-9) had three players in double figures led by junior Al Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) who finished with 13 points. Junior Kyle Rawson (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) tallied 11 points and set a career-high with six steals, while senior Steve Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) registered a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Devils (3-8) scored 18 of their final 20 points from the line to earn their third win of the season. Three players shared the team-high in points as junior guard Adam Katz (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills), freshman Will Green (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and senior Ricky Fetske (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) each netted 13 points. Fetske grabbed nine boards, while Katz nabbed three steals.

The game was knotted at 32 at the intermission. Neither team was able to get its outside shooting to kick-start as they shot a combined 2-for-16 from three-point range. But quick transitional play off missed shots led to easy lay-ups as the lead changed hands four times.

The Lions held their largest lead of the half at 26-17 lead with nine minutes remaining following a Brian Kelly (Clark, NJ/Lawrenceville Prep) jumper. The Devils, however, stormed back with a 14-4 run over a five-minute span to go up 31-30.

FDU-Florham came out firing in the second half and took command of the game taking a 45-36 lead after a Trevor Sykes (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boy's) three-point bucket. TCNJ came back with baskets from Dan Bucher (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) and William Lester (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), but Sykes drained another shot from long range to push the lead to 50-40 with 10:46 left on the clock.

The Lions battled and slowly crept their way back into the game. Rawson came up big at the three-minute mark when he was fouled and converted a free-throw for a three-point play to cut the lead to two. He then stripped Sykes of the ball and led Matlock with a pass as he hit a reverse lay-up to tie the game 60-60.

FDU-Florham was efficient from the line late in the game, however, as Katz hit four straight foul shots down the stretch to ice the game.

TCNJ returns to conference play on Wednesday when they host Rutgers University-Camden at 7 p.m. at Packer Hall.