Ithaca, NY (Nov. 18, 2016) – Standout newcomers Brian Berrios and Givvion Jones led five Purchase double-figure scorers with 23 and 22 points, respectively, as the Panthers downed  Cortland, 94-85, during the opening day of the Cortaca Classic, co-hosted by Cortland and Ithaca.

Berrios (JR/New York, NY) went 8-of-16 from the field, 5-of-12 from 3-point range, for the Panthers (2-0). Jones (JR/Mount Vernon, NY) hit on 8-of-13 shots and grabbed nine rebounds, and Deshawn Cann (SO/Queens, NY) added 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Nikeem Deleon (JR/Bronx, NY) finished with 12 points, and Tarik Allicock (JR/Brooklyn, NY) totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Cortland (0-1) was led by James Morales' career-high 34 points. Morales hit 11-of-23 shots, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and was 9-of-9 from the foul line. Justin Cooper added 16 points (8-of-8 free throws), 11 rebounds and five assists, while Carrel Joseph finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Purchase shot 54 percent from the field, including 60 percent (18-of-30) in the second half. Cortland shot only 29 percent in the second half and 34 percent for the game.

Cortland led 39-32 with 2:04 left in the first half on a Cooper 3-pointer, but Purchase tied the game over the next 1:04 and only trailed by one at halftime, 43-42.

The Panthers held a small lead over the first six minutes of the second half.

Morales tied the game at 58-58 on a jumper with 13:06 left, but Purchase went on a 13-4 run over the next six minutes and never trailed.

Cortland was within four at 73-69 on a Morales trey with 5:40 left and down five after three Morales free throws at the 4:16 mark and again, at 79-74, on a Morales jumper with 3:53 left.

Purchase, however, put the game away with a 7-0 run that gave the Panthers an 86-74 lead with 1:37 on the clock. Cortland did get back to within six with 29 seconds left on Morales' final 3-pointer of the night but could get no closer.

Panther head coach Kyle Martin cited turning to Jones off the bench in igniting the team's turnaround.

The victory set up a matchup with Ithaca in the championship game Saturday. Ithaca defeated St. Joseph's College-LI in the other half of the tournament bracket Friday night. 

-Cortland Sports Information Contributed to this report