Purchase, NY
(Jan. 03, 2018) – Purchase men's basketball saw its first action in 27 days Wednesday night, but didn't allow the long layoff to trip them up in their return to the hardwood.
The Panthers looked strong in a Skyline Conference victory over St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn – a team that has played two games over the holiday break.
Purchase posted a 86-60 win, improving to 7-2 overall, including 4-1 against the league. The loss drops SJC-BKLYN to 5-8 and 4-4 in conference.
Purchase roared out of the gate behind
Nikeem Deleon (SR/Bronx, NY). The upperclassman scored eight straight points. He connected on two 3-pointers in the process.
Purchase led 10-5 five minutes into the game. They bumped the lead to 12-5 on a
Deshawn Cann (JR/Queens, NY) layup from
Brian Berrios (SR/New York, NY), and later 15-9 on a 3-pointer from key reserve
Kaliph Grant (SR/Bronx, NY).
The hosts extended to a 10-point advantage on a
Max Pearce (SR/Tuckahoe, NY) score.
SJC-BKLYN responded with a strong stretch of its own and closed within 26-15, before Berrios converted a 3 to make it 29-15.
The visitors got a boost from Joseph Idyahia off the bench. He hit a 3-pointer to close back to 29-18. That 3 propelled SJC-BKLYN to a 13-10 stretch over the final six minutes of the half.
Purchase led 39-31 at the break.
The Panthers never looked back in the second half, utilizing the foundation built in the first half to open a double-digit win.
Deleon and Cann fueled the second half, scoring 13 and 10, respectively, as Purchase outscored SJC-BKLYN 47-29 over the final 20 minutes.
Deleon would finish with 23 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double effort. The forward also dished a game-high six assists. Cann added 18 total points, eight boards and three steals, saving his best for the second half.
Tarik Allicock (SR/Brooklyn, NY) contributed 11 points and nine rebounds in a near double-double. He also finished with three assists and two blocks, teaming with Cann and Deleon in a well balanced offensive attack.
Purchase had 10 players score points on a night when its defense shined. The Panthers shot 46 percent from the field as a team and limited the visitors to 35 percent shooting.
