Purchase College Athletics

The second men's basketball team to win a Skyline Conference Championship AND the first to win a game during the NCAA Tournament.

For the season, the Panthers finished 24-5 overall and 17-3 in the conference. Compared to the year prior, the wins were a significant improvement and showcased just how much the championship team continued to improve.

With the record, the Blue and Orange secured the No.1 seed in the Skyline playoffs, which allowed all games to run through Purchase, NY.

After having a bye in round one, Purchase proceeded to best No.5 Old Westbury (84-75) in the semifinals, before cruising past No.3 St. Joseph's-Long Island (81-66) in the title game.
 

The title was the team's second in as many years, as the Panthers established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. 

However, a second Skyline title was not enough for this year's squad, as they wanted more with their participation in the NCAA Tournament.

After falling in the first round the year prior, Purchase answered the call this time around, besting Hartwick College on the road, 79-69.

The win marked the first NCAA Division III tourney victory in Purchase history and was the exclamation mark on one of the best runs in Purchase College history.

Over the course of the season, the squad collected countless accolades, just like the year prior. Some of the awards included:

• Marvin Billups '11 collecting award after award, including: Skyline Conference Player of the Year, All-Met Writers First Team, ECAC All-Star First Team, State Farm Coaches' Third Team All-American, D3Hoops.com All-American Honorable Mention, NABC All-Star and NABC Reese's College All-Star Game
• Michael McNair '11 claimed the Skyline Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player and a spot on the All-Skyline Conference Second Team
• The team played Manhattanville College at Madison Square Garden during the regular season
• Won the Eastern Connecticut Tip-Off Championship
• Hosted the biggest crowd ever at a Purchase College game
• Had nine seniors graduate, all of which won two titles
• Three players averaged double-digit points per game: Billups - 19.3, McNair - 14.9, Charles Thompson '11 - 10.0
• The Panthers averaged 79.1 PPG, which was a nearly two point increase compared to the year prior

The 2010-11 season will always be remembered for its impact on the program and on Purchase in general. Because while one title is always a thing to celebrate, numerous titles launch a team into a different status.

And that's what this group did.

10 of the 11 players were returners from the year before, and not only lived up to that legacy, but expanded it greatly with another championship.

The 2010-11 team solidified the legacy of Purchase College men's basketball being a force to deal with - one that remains to this day.

The fact that the Panthers won it not once, but twice, single-handedly led to the program to more top-notch recruits, more wins and more highlights.