Purchase, NY (Dec. 2, 2015) – It came down to a three-point game with 12.2 seconds to go in the second half, but a costly Panther turnover sealed an eventual 67-63 loss to the visiting College of Mount Saint Vincent Wednesday night at Purchase.

The Dolphins and Panthers battled until the very end, but CMSV pulled out the four-point victory, fending off Purchase over the final 2:53. The hosts held their last lead at 3:41 (58-57), but a 3-pointer from Ryan Fraser gave the Dolphins a two-point lead, which the visitors built from in the last two minutes. Fraser then sunk a key layup at 1:58 to push that margin to four. CMSV extended that advantage to five with 25 seconds to go, but a pair of Panther free throws brought it back to three.

While bringing the ball up the floor with a chance to tie or close within one, Purchase turned the ball over. CMSV held on and sank one more free throw for the win.

The second half was tied at 36-36, right from the first basket by Purchase center Joel Neri (SR/Port Chester, NY) and later 41-41 on a 3 from Kalyn Credle (JR/Queens, NY). The Dolphins responded with a six-point run at 16:19, highlighted by back-to-back 3s.

The Dolphins (4-2, 3-0 Skyline Conference) held a six-point lead at 13:39 in the second stanza, but Purchase would tie it again at 49 apiece, courtesy of Taylor Foster (SR/Greenburgh, NY). Foster's jumper, followed by a Credle layup, gave Purchase a 51-49 lead at 10:01. The Panthers then held a one to four point margin over the next four minutes until the Dolphins mounted their comeback.  

In defeat, Purchase was led offensively by Neri, who recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Foster added 11 points.

The first half was highlighted by a pair of highlight reel plays from rookie Max Pearce (SO/Tuckahoe, NY) and point guard Jose Reyes (SR/Bronx, NY). Pearce threw down an emphatic dunk in the opening minutes, while Reyes connected on a soft floater along the baseline, going coast-to-coast on a fastbreak for an early Panther lead. Pearce's jam created a ton of buzz, as the Panther newcomer surprised the defense and the crowd, taking off inches from the foul line.   

The game was tied 10-10 through the first seven minutes, when Panther guard Creig Graves (SR/Harlem, NY) connected on a top-of-the-key 3 for a 13-10 lead. The two teams would continue their back-and-forth affair. With under seven minutes, CMSV led 21-20, but then reeled off consecutive scores for a 25-20 advantage at 6:46.

A made free throw by Dolphin reserve guard Trevor Johnson made it 29-23 at 5:45. Right after, CMSV then scored a 3-pointer from Jamir Ferebee for a 32-23 lead.

The Panthers got back two straight scores, including a jumper from Pearce to close back within five (32-27). At 2:46, Purchase forward Brandon Sillaro (SR/Patchogue, NY) extended the run to six straight, scoring a two-pointer inside the paint.

Pearce then electrified the home crowd, tying the game on a corner 3-pointer (32-32) before Foster gave Purchase the lead at 1:25 on a jumper. CMSV responded with the tying score, next trip down the floor, and then the go-ahead score at 24.7 seconds. The Dolphins took a 36-34 lead on a layup by forward Ammad Alkhulaidi.
 
Alkhulaidi finished with a game-high 22 to pace CMSV. Ferebee added 16, while Johnson netted 12 off the bench.

Purchase is now 3-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.