Box Score 

Purchase, NY (Jan. 10, 2015) – The Purchase men's basketball team started the home portion of the second half of its schedule Saturday with a victory – its first of 2015.

After opening the mid-winter break with a defeat earlier this week on the road at St. Joseph's College-LI, the Panthers (2-10 overall, 2-3 Skyline Conference) got back to their winning ways against Sarah Lawrence.

Purchase won 83-47.

The loss dropped SLC to 1-10 and 0-5 in the league.

It was a competitive first half until about the five-minute marker, when Purchase opened up a double-digit lead en route to a 33-15 margin at the break.

The Gryphons started strong, leading 4-0 and shortly later 7-0 before the Panthers responded with seven straight points of their own, including a 3-pointer by Creig Graves (JR/Harlem, NY) that made it 7-5.

SLC would tie the score three times in the first half as the see-saw action continued throughout the first 15 minutes of play. Purchase broke the game open following an energizing jam by Justin Person (SR/Greenburgh, NY).

Points in the paint (10-2 in favor of PC) played a pivotal role in the opening half of action, as did points off turnovers (10-5 PC). The Panther bench shutout the Gryphon bench and outscored the visitors 6-0 in that category before intermission.

Purchase picked up where it left off in the first half, closing out the impressive home win.

Four players finished in double figures offensively, including Graves, who netted a game-high 22; center Kendal Felix (SR/Brooklyn, NY), who totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double effort; Person (14 points, seven rebounds and game-high five assists) and Michael Pelham (SO/Spring Valley, NY) (10 points, four rebounds). Key reserve Nicholas Jackson (JR/Brooklyn, NY) also added nine points off the bench.

The Panther defense looked sharp as well, amassing 14 steals and forcing 23 turnovers, while limiting its own to 11 on the afternoon.

In addition, the day was highlighted by the NewFlex Youth Program of Mount Vernon (pictured), which played a youth basketball game during the halftime and provided a nice cheering section for the Panthers. The youngsters then stayed after the game and got the Panther players to autograph their programs. The outing was a collaboration between AD Chris Bisignano, Purchase athletics and NewFlex organizer Nesta Felix, the sister of Panther big man Kendall Felix.

The Panthers return to action next Thursday at home, when Purchase welcomes conference rival SUNY Maritime. Game time is set for 7 p.m.