Patchogue, NY (Dec. 12, 2015) – The Panthers erased an 18-point, second-half deficit Saturday at St. Joseph's College-LI, upending the Golden Eagles 73-70 in their best performance of the early season.

Purchase (4-7 overall, 2-4 Skyline Conference) trailed 40-33 at the break and by as many as 18 in the second half before roaring back to complete the quality road win in their final showing of 2015.  

Despite a 23-point performance on 7-of-9 shooting by Fernando Vazquez, SJC-LI was flabbergasted at the Danzi Center. With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 3-6 (2-2 Skyline) on the year.

After surrendering 10 of the game's first 15 points, SJC went on a 7-0 run to pull ahead of Purchase 12-10 at the 13:06 mark.

From there out the Golden Eagles would hold leads of 26-21 and 35-29 before Vazquez's buzzer-beater 3 ensured his side went into the break up 40-33.

Carrying their momentum into the second frame, the Golden Eagles went up 14 points (53-39) at 15:44, when Vazquez, who went 5 of 7 from behind the arc on the afternoon, sank another 3.

At 12:38, the hosts held their largest lead (18 points), 61-43, but a staggering 30-9 run by the Panthers over the final 10:54 of the game powered the guests to the three-point, come-from-behind victory.

It was standout center Joel Neri (SR/Port Chester, NY), who went for 21 points and 15 rebounds in the game, that converted a layup with 1:12 to play that clinched the win for Purchase.

Vazquez's 23 points were a game-high, and the guard also contributed two assists and two steals.

The Panthers outrebounded the Golden Eagles 58-20 and also held edges in second-chance points (25-3) and bench points (24-5).

Taylor Foster (SR/Greenburgh, NY) added 17 points and 17 rebounds, joining Neri in the double-double effort. Key reserve Kalyn Credle (JR/Queens, NY) sparked the Panthers off the bench in the second half, scoring nine points. He connected on three key 3s on the afternoon.

-SJC-LI Sports Information Contributed to this report