Box Score Purchase, NY
(Feb. 19, 2015) – The evening began with an honor for two standout Panther hoopsters, but for the "Purchase Faithful," the outcome wasn't as celebratory with Mount Saint Mary earning a 78-73 victory.
The men's basketball team honored their soon to be alumni on their annual Senior Night before dropping a tightly contested matchup that came down to free throws in the closing seconds.
Knights guard Tyler McDine played a pivotal role, connecting on seven of eight from the charity stripe to help preserve the road win. Captain Stephen Steyer finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Gerard Nocera paced all scorers with 24 points.
MSMC (8-17, 7-11 Skyline Conference) started off slow, with back to back turnovers in first half. The Panthers took an early 7-2 lead, but the Knights responded with a 13-3 run, tightening up their interior defense and moving the ball on offense.
Purchase (9-15, 9-8) forced the action in the post, causing the Knights to foul early.
A good hustle play by
Creig Graves (JR/Harlem, NY) led to a
Justin Person (SR/Greenburgh, NY) drive to the basket, drawing a foul. He converted on one free throw, pushing the score to 21-16.
But MSMC made another run, extending their lead to 12 with six minutes left in the first half.
A Person assist to
Nicholas Jackson (JR/Brooklyn, NY) for a dunk temporarily stopped the bleeding.
After a gritty first half, the Knights were up 40-27.
The Panthers started to climb back in the game by attacking the offensive glass.
After
Taylor Foster (JR/Greenbugh, NY) and
Michael Pelham (SO/Spring Valley, NY) converted two free throws, the deficit was cut to one, and momentum shifted in Purchase's favor.
The Knights responded with a mini run, but the Panthers wouldn't let up.
Foster later converted on a basket and free throw, making the score 69-66 in Mount's favor with 3:01 left in the game.
After made triples by both teams and a Foster layup, Purchase was down by one, but the Panthers turned the ball. Eventually Steyer made two free throws to make the score 74-71.
Panther guard
Troy Singleton (JR/Queens, NY) was fouled with 6.7 seconds left in the game. Graves was fouled later on and made both free throws.
The Knights held off Purchase in the free-throw shooting contest that ensued.
The top guns for the Panthers were Foster, Jackson and Person.
Foster dropped a team-high 17 points, grabbed three rebounds, handed out one assist and posted one rejection.
Jackson posted 10 points and four boards.
Person collected nine points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and two steals on Senior Night. He was honored before the game along with center
Kendall Felix (SR/Brooklyn, NY). Person, the program's all-time assist leader, was recognized at center court along with his mom, Lisa, brother Leon and uncle Nae. Person is a four-time coaches' award winner, a former defensive player of the year and a three-year captain.
Felix also received a warm welcome in the pre-game ceremony, which was MCed by Purchase
S.I.D. Bobby Ciafardini. Felix, who transferred from Mercy, is a two-year Panther who is enjoying a near double-double campaign. He has filled in admirably for injured center
Joel Neri, who is out for the season. Felix was joined by his sister Nesta, mom Melcina and brother Erskin.
Unfortunately, the Knights played the role of spoiler on Senior Night as MSMC head coach Ryan Kadlubowski earned his 100th career win.
On a bright note for Purchase, the Panthers did clinch a postseason berth. They are included in the field of six teams. The Panthers wrap the regular season Saturday at home in a rescheduled matchup with Old Westbury at noon.
