Men's Basketball Ranked Fifth in Skyline Preseason Poll

(Press Release from the Skyline Conference)

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Led by reigning Skyline Player of the Year and preseason All-American AJ Matthews, Farmingdale State has been selected to capture the 2012-13 men's basketball championship in voting conducted by the league's ten head coaches. 

The Rams earned eight first-place votes and amassed 80 points, while 2010-11 champion Purchase finished second with 65 votes.  Mount Saint Mary received one first-place vote and placed third in the voting with 61 points, while Old Westbury (60) also garnered a first-place vote.  2012 NCAA participant St. Joseph's-L.I. finished fifth in the voting with 50 points, followed by Mount Saint Vincent (47), Sage (35), Yeshiva (24), NYU-Poly (16) and Maritime (12).  

Matthews, a 2012 NABC Division III All-American, led the nation in both rebounding (16.3 rpg.) and double-doubles (26) a year ago.  The 7-0 senior has been tabbed the 2012-13 Preseason Player of the Year by DIII News.  Purchase is bolstered by the return of a trio of double-figure scorers in guards John Pressley (14.8 ppg.) and Andre Nixon (14.3 ppg.) and center Craig Davis (15.7 ppg.).     

The opening round of the 2012-13 Skyline Men's Basketball Championship will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19.  The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, while the finals will be played on Saturday, Feb. 23.

2012-13 Skyline Preseason Coaches Poll 
1. Farmingdale State - 80 [8]
2. Purchase - 65
3. Mount Saint Mary - 61 [1]
4. Old Westbury - 60 [1]
5. St. Joseph's-L.I. - 50
6. Mount Saint Vincent - 47
7. Sage - 35
8. Yeshiva - 24
9. NYU-Poly - 16
10. Maritime - 12 

First-place votes in parentheses