Purchase, NY (Nov. 15, 2016) – A sensational start for the Purchase College men's basketball team paved the way for an overwhelming 112-77 victory in their season and home opener Tuesday night.

A 16-0 run to start the game translated into a 28-point halftime advantage and an eventual 35-point, double-digit final against Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.

The Panthers poured it on in the double-figure win, outscoring the Warriors 53-48 in the second half.

In the process, Purchase, projected third in last week's Skyline Conference preseason poll, improved to 1-0. The loss dropped non-conference opponent Vaughn to 1-1.   

The Panthers raced out to an early first-half lead. The first basket of the 2016-17 season was scored by forward Nikeem Deleon (JR/Bronx, NY). Off a Vaughn turnover, Deleon finished on the break for a quick 2-0 lead in the opening minute.

Moments later, Panther guard Michael Soffer (SO/Agoura, CA) followed with a 3-pointer.

Purchase pushed the lead to 9-0, capping the quick spurt on a jam by center Tarik Allicock (JR/Brooklyn, NY). The dunk prompted a timeout for Vaughn at 17:21.

Within moments, the hosts stretched the lead to 13-0.

A Brian Berrios (JR/New York, NY) 3-pointer at 15:26 extended the route to 16-0 before the Warriors got on the board.

Vaughn's Michael Pena connected on a jumper and then followed with a 3-pointer to make it 16-5. The Warriors regrouped and with just under 13 minutes to play in the opening period trailed, 16-7, when Purchase head coach Kyle Martin called a timeout at 12:27.

The visitors outscored Purchase 6-2 over the next minute and 45 seconds to draw within five at 18-13.

But a conventional style three-point play by the hustling Deshawn Cann (SO/Queens, NY) pushed the margin to 21-13 for the Panthers midway through the first half.

The game would see-saw over the next few minutes, with Purchase going back up by 10, 27-17, on a score by key reserve Givvion Jones (JR/Mount Vernon, NY).  
A pair of 3s from Berrios and Kayln Credle (SR/Queens, NY), wrapped around two Vaughn scores, made it 33-22.

The Warriors would stay within striking distance, closing to 41-29 on a Carlos Montes free throw with under four minutes.

Then Credle went off, connecting on three straight hoops – all from beyond the arc – to shoot the Panthers back into a commanding lead at 50-29.

Purchase closed the half leading 57-29.

The Panthers were paced offensively in the first half by Credle and Berrios, who totaled 12 and 11 points, respectively. Cann and Allicock added nine apiece. Vaughn's Pena had a team-high seven points in the opening half. Teammates Ian Parker and Dillon Dieng added six apiece.  

In the second, the Panthers picked up where they left off in the first half, utilizing a 14-4 run within the first two minutes to hold a 69-33 advantage. The spurt was highlighted by two more 3-pointers from the sharp-shooting Berrios.

When Cann connected on a three-point play at 14:43, the Panthers held an 80-46 lead.

Shortly after, Jones electrified the large crowd with a dunk at 12:12 for an 84-48 lead.

Purchase reserve Max Pearce (JR/Tuckahoe, NY) connected on two free throws at 9:21 to increase that margin to 92-53. Allicock followed immediately after with another jam (94-53), as the high octane offense torched Vaughn down the stretch.

Pearce would contribute two more baskets in the next two minutes, and when Allicock made the front end of his two free throws at 5:42, that made it 100-57.

Vaughn outscored Purchase 20-12 over the final five minutes, culminating in the 112-77 final. Reserves David Giribaldi (FR/Andover, MA), Derick Ansah (JR/Bronx, NY), Michael Pelham (SR/Spring Valley, NY), Kayvon Reid (SR/Tuckahoe, NY), Mezu Agwu (SO/Ramapo, NY) and Tucker Beachak (FR/Cold Spring, NY) highlighted the second-half route. 

The overpowering lead allowed Martin to turn to his bench and give some of the fresh faces minutes in the complete win.

Five players finished in double figures offensively for the Panthers, including Berrios and his game-high 21 points. Cann added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win. Allicock registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Deleon also contributed 13 points and six rebounds.

For Vaughn, five players finished with double-figure points, including Lamink Barr, Donald Tompson, Kevin Vanderpool, Pena and Parker. Barr, Tompson, Vanderpool and Pena shared the team-high with 12 points.

The Panthers will now take part in the Cortaca Classic this weekend, where they will face non-conference powers Ithaca and Cortland.