Box Score

Purchase, NY (Jan. 9, 2013) – SUNY College at Old Westbury is putting together a special men's basketball season.

And although Purchase showed its mettle tonight at home in a battle of rivals and top-notch programs, the rival SUNY Panthers got the better end of the contest, winning 86-75 to improve to 10-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the Skyline Conference. Old Westbury has already defeated both of the top two teams in the preseason poll, Farmingdale State – the reigning champion, who they defeated in overtime – and Purchase, last winter's runner-up and winner of two of the last three league crowns.

In defeat, Purchase is now 9-2 overall and 3-2 in conference.

The game was evenly matched from the outset, but Old Westbury made a sizeable push midway through the first, jumping out to a 12-point lead at the break (42-30).

The host Panthers would actually outscore OW in the second half, 45-44, but the first 20 minutes proved to be the difference. The visitors flashed a long ball touch from 3, connecting on seven from beyond the arc before the night was over. Kerel Mitchell hit three 3s and added eight rebounds and 16 points to his credit.

Old Westbury had four players finish in double figures, highlighted by leading scorer Tyrik Tucker, who netted 18 and followed by Mitchell and Rashawn McCarthy. McCarthy totaled 15. Tucker added 13 rebounds in a solid double-double. Omari Trebuse contributed 10 points and shared the team-high of three assists with Mitchell.

Both teams would shoot about the same for the game. OW finished at 40.5 percent and Purchase shot an even 40 percent for the contest. But OW won the rebounding margin, 49-36, taking the battle of the glass and also connected on 19 of 26 free throws, while Purchase shot 15 of 23 from the charity stripe.

Purchase also had four finish in double figure scoring. Justin Person (JR/Greenburgh, NY) led the way with 15 points, six rebounds and a game-high four assists. He played an impressive 38 minutes.

Craig Davis (SR/Queens, NY) scored 14 points off the bench. Teammates Ryan Lobban (JR/Bronx, NY) and Amar Reynolds (SR/Bronx, NY) also added 13 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench in the loss.

Looking to get back on track, Purchase returns to action Saturday at Sage as the league schedule continues throughout January and February.