Purchase, NY (Feb. 21, 2017) – The Purchase College men's basketball team is heading to Farmingdale State Thursday night for the Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Championship Semifinal following tonight's 72-55 win over Yeshiva University at home.

The Panthers raced out to a sparkling 15-0 lead in the tournament's first-round game Tuesday night, but needed plenty of fight to fend off the feisty Maccabees – the same team that eliminated them a year ago in the conference's opening round, and a squad that also managed to best them during the regular season.  

But tonight would be different.

No. 4 Purchase raced out to a 15-point lead and led 37-29 at the break, fighting off several surges by the fifth-seeded visitors in the first half.

Purchase head coach Kyle Martin did a nice job settling his squad and helping the Panthers regroup midway through the first period.

The Panthers opened with possession on the tap and got a quick score by guard Michael Soffer (SO/Agoura, CA) in the first seconds. Fellow backcourt mate Brian Berrios (JR/Bronx, NY) followed with 3-pointer (5-0).

Then, forward Nikeem Deleon (JR/Bronx, NY) hit a jumper to extend (7-0) at 18:22. Berrios found the bottom of the net for a 9-0 margin and then Yeshiva took a timeout to try and regroup itself at 17:43.

Purchase's swingman Deshawn Cann (SO/Queens, NY) scored on back-to-back possessions before Berrios broke the game open on a steal and score.

Yeshiva finally got on the board behind a 3-pointer (15-3).

Nonetheless, the Macs showed their mettle.   

Over the next few minutes, YU put together a spurt, cutting the deficit to 20-8 at the 13-minute marker and 22-17, but an impressive dunk and conventional-style three-point play by center Tarik Allicock (JR/Brooklyn, NY) made it 25-17 Purchase.

The Macs second spurt of the half – a 12-10 output – before the break brought them within eight. Soffer sunk a key jumper at the halftime buzzer to provide a little extra cushion.  

YU battled back over the first eight minutes of the second half and tied the game 43-all on a Simcha Halpert 3-pointer at 11:32. During that stretch, the Macs outscored the hosts, 14-6.

But Purchase wasn't going to be dealt the same fate as a year ago. A Deleon jumper made it 45-43 and Cann followed with two free throws to re-up the lead right after. Deleon made it 49-43 at 8:57 on a score, and continued his outstanding play in the absence of injured big man Givvion Jones (JR/Mount Vernon, NY).

Deleon's 3-pointer at 7:37 (55-46) pushed the lead to nine points in Purchase's favor.

That's when the game swung in their direction for good as the lead ballooned to 10 at 6:13 behind two free throws from Kewan Beebe (JR/Glen Cove, NY).

In the final six minutes, Purchase put on a clinic in eliminating YU. The Panthers got two jams from Kayvon Reid (SR/Tuckahoe, NY) and one at the buzzer from Cann for good measure in sealing the victory and advancing against to face FSC.

The Panthers have already overcome one rival this postseason. They will look to do the same Thursday night against the Rams, a team that also defeated them during the regular season.

Purchase had three players finish in double figures offensively, including Berrios (game-high 19), Deleon (13) and Cann (11). Allicock chipped in seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

YU had three players in double-figure points, including high man Judah Cohen (15).

The Skyline semifinal against FSC is set for 7 p.m.