Box Score

Purchase, NY (Dec. 1, 2011) – Pre-season rankings had two-time defending Skyline champion Purchase College outside the top three programs, according to league coaches, but at the start of the 2011-12 campaign, not much has changed for the Panthers.  

Purchase (3-1, 2-0 Skyline) rung up another league win Thursday night, navigating around some early trouble for a 76-71 victory. The Panthers rallied in the second half after falling behind 31-30 at intermission. Emerging star John Pressley (JR/New York, NY) hit the go-ahead basket with 17 seconds left, making it 72-71 before Jake Stevens III (SR/Far Rockaway, NY) sunk a pair of high-pressure free throws to give the Panthers some breathing room in the final minute. Pressley would add two more free throws after a desperation missed 3 from MSMC's Donte Howell in the waning seconds.

The Panthers were sparked by a late 3-pointer from guard Amar Reynolds (JR/Bronx, NY) at 2:38 that pushed Purchase past MSMC, 66-65. The Knights and the Panthers would trade a few baskets before Pressley and Stevens sealed it.

It was an impressive win for the back-to-back Skyline champions, who although only return one player from last year's squad, already are showing the makings of a potential three-peat destiny under head coach Jeff Charney. The victory was all that much sweeter with MSMC returning nearly all of its players from a season ago.

Despite all of the new faces, the Panthers stuck to the game plan and little by little overcame a poor start Thursday night at home. The Knights scored the game's first hoop, but would fall behind by 11 on a Stevens score with around six minutes left in the first.

MSMC refused to go away quietly, tying the game at 24-24 at 3:25. The Knights even led by one at 1:33 on a bucket by guard Ryan Straub before the Panthers once again evened the score at 28 on a free throw by captain B.J. Warrington (SR/Bronx, NY). Shortly later, Christopher Fazio (FR/Mohegan Lake, NY) added a layup for a 30-28 margin.

But MSMC's Donte Howell nailed a near 80-footer at the first-half buzzer to give the visitors at 31-30 lead at the break. The shocking heave hit nothing but net and looked like an ESPN highlight.

The Panthers would compose themselves in the second half and outscored the Knights 46-40 in a more run-and-gun style final 20 minutes, highlighted by the last three minutes of back-and-forth scores in regulation. Reynolds' clutch 3 and Pressley's timely hoop, along with Stevens' money free throws would be enough in the final moments for Purchase to wrap up its second straight conference win.

Five players finished in double figures for the Panthers, with Warrington leading the way. He scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in an impressive effort. Fazio contributed 13 of his own, sharing the game high with Warrington and MSMC's Howell. Pressley, who suffered some tightness and missed most of the first half, netted 11 in 21 minutes of action.

Reynolds finished with 11 points and center Elon Howard (SR/Brooklyn, NY) capped his night with 12 points and six boards. Justin Person (JR/Greenburgh, NY) scored seven points and in 21 minutes, while Stevens, back in the starting lineup, added nine, pairing it with three assists, one block and two steals.

MSMC had four players finish in double figures offensively. In defeat, the Knights drop to 3-2 and 0-1 in conference play.  

Purchase can make it four straight this weekend. The Panthers are road bound for the Hockenbury Classic.