Purchase, NY (Dec. 3, 2016) – It was a cardiac finish Saturday for both the Purchase and Mount Saint Mary basketball teams.
 
MSMC would go on to take the Skyline Conference matchup in overtime, nailing a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation to erase a sizeable deficit throughout and then once again delivering another heart-pounding buzzer beater at the end of overtime to seize a 99-96 victory from the Panthers. The loss drops Purchase to 5-2, including 1-1 in league play, while bumping the Knights to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Skyline.
 
The Panthers, despite surrounding the lead late, had plenty of dramatic moments in OT as well, including a long ball from key reserve guard Kalyn Credle (SR/Queens, NY) that tied the game with four seconds left in the extra session. But MSMC's Tyler McDine played hero, sinking the 3-pointer right before the buzzer in OT.
 
At the outset of the contest, the Panthers held the highest scoring offense in the conference at 92.3 PPG, as well as the highest scoring margin at 9.8 PPG.
 
Guard Michael Soffer (SO/Agoura, CA) began strong with a three-pointer before the first minute was up. He would add seven points to the Panther score before the conclusion of the first half.
 
The Panthers held a four-point lead within the first ten minutes, with layups from Soffer, Nikeem Deleon (JR/Bronx, NY) and Tarik Allicock (JR/Brooklyn, NY) contributing to the 23-19 advantage.
 
Deshawn Cann (SO/Queens, NY) led in assists and rebounds in the first half, with six apiece. Standout Brian Berrios (JR/New York, NY) – second highest scorer in the conference at the start of Saturday's action, averaging 21.5 PPG – contributed two assists and a rebound in the first period.  
 
The Knights saw their momentum slowing as Purchase pulled ahead in the latter part of the first half. The Panthers scored another five points with a layup from Kayvon Reid (SR/Tuckahoe, NY) and a three-pointer from Credle, while Mount's score remained stagnant.
 
Panther rookie David Giribaldi (FR/Andover, MA) contributed a point with two minutes to go in the first half, and Deleon closed it off with a layup, bringing the squad's lead up to 10 points at 39-29.
 
Berrios picked up momentum as the game continued, scoring three 3-pointers within three minutes of resuming play in the second half. Allicock and Givvion Jones (JR/Mount Vernon, NY) led the team in rebounds at six and four in the second half, respectively.
 
Another 3 from Berrios put the men up 13, 59-46, with thirteen minutes to go. Three minutes later, the Panthers remained in control at 64-56.
 
But the Knights kept chipping away.
 
With a minute on the clock in regulation, and Purchase in the lead 78-74, Jones made three foul shots. Mount Saint Mary countered with a 3-pointer.
 
The last ten seconds saw the rivals battle back and forth. MSMC narrowed its deficit to just a point with two straight layups.
 
Berrios countered with foul shots, but a successful 3-pointer at the buzzer from Knights' guard Connor Bacci tied the game at 84-84.
 
At the start of overtime play, Jones made a 3 to put the squad back in the lead. Two minutes later, the Knights had a 92-87 advantage behind a 5-0 run. With 2:30 remaining, Berrios sank his fifth 3 of the game, closing the gap to 92-90. Soffer kept it going with another, leaving the Panthers just one point behind (94-93) with thirty seconds left.
 
Credle's clutch 3 tied the game at 96-96.
 
At the OT buzzer, McDine had the final big shot of the afternoon.
 
Berrios led the Panthers with a team-high 21 points. Soffer and Cann added 15 apiece. Jones finished with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Allicock chipped in with six points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Cann also produced a game-high 10 assists.
 
The Knights were paced by Gerard Nocera and his game-high 22. Six players finished in double-figure points offensively for MSMC.
 
Purchase returns to action Tuesday at 8 p.m.