Box Score

Purchase, NY (Feb. 21, 2012) – Many times, basketball contests become a game of runs. 

That was certainly the case Tuesday night as Purchase College took advantage of big scoring runs in both the first and second half to advance to the Skyline Conference semifinals with an 86-69 win over SUNY College at Old Westbury.

No. 4 Purchase will now take on top-seeded St. Joseph's College-LI Thursday at 7 p.m., with the Panthers looking to avenge two regular season losses, the second of which was just three days ago by a three-point margin at Purchase.

Against No. 5 Old Westbury, Purchase charged out of the gate, opening  up a 39-17 lead with just over seven minutes to go in the first half. 

But Old Westbury went on a run of their own, battling back to within 11 points at half to go into the locker room down 45-34.

Both teams exchanged early baskets in the second half, but Old Westbury closed to within two points with 14:21 to go in the game. 

A free throw by Purchase's Amar Reynolds (JR/Bronx, NY), a layup by Purchase's Justin Person (JR/Greenburgh, NY) and a layup by Andre Nixon (SO/Harlem, NY) extended the Purchase lead to 58-51, but Old Westbury battled back to make the score 60-58 with just over eight minutes to go in the contest. 

But a nine-point run, keyed by two free throws and a layup by Nixon took the score to 69-58 Purchase and the Panthers never looked back from that point.

For the game, Purchase shot a scorching 57.1 percent from the field. 

Nixon led all scorers in the game with 26 points, shooting 10 of 12 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-three line. Nixon also had six rebounds to lead the Panthers in that category.

Reynolds chipped in with 16 points for Purchase, while D.J. Smith (JR/Saugus, CA) had 15 points and Craig Davis (JR/Queens, NY) was the fourth Panther to post double figures offensively with 11.  

For Old Westbury,  four Panthers scored in double figures – Jamal Little had 11, while Tevon McNair netted 13 and Rashawn McCarthy and Kerel Mitchell scored 12 apiece.  McNair also pulled down 10 rebounds.

Two-time defending conference champion Purchase, which split the regular season series with OW at 1-1, takes the quarterfinal matchup and now advances to face the Golden Eagles Thursday night at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 2 FSC/No. 3 MSMC Saturday night in the league final.