Purchase, NY (Jan. 6, 2018) – A fast start shot Purchase College past SUNY Maritime Saturday at home – the Orange and Blue's sixth straight victory dating back to last semester.  

The Panthers got going early on their way to an 82-71 victory against the Privateers. The Skyline Conference win improves Purchase's record to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the league. Maritime is now 5-6 and 2-5.   

Purchase took an 11-point lead into halftime, backed by superb shooting. The Panthers led 41-30 at the break. The hosts shot 53 percent from the field in the first half.   

Deshawn Cann (JR/Queens, NY) opened the scoring – foreshadowing a huge day to come for the Panther swingman – and was followed by a 3-pointer by Brian Berrios (SR/New York, NY) for a quick 5-0 advantage. Maritime's Patrick MacDonald scored back-to-back, but a hoop from Nikeem Deleon (SR/Bronx, NY) made it 7-4 in favor of Purchase.

The Panthers extended the lead to 15-7 at the 13-minute mark and 18-9 at 11:51.

A Berrios 3 pushed it further, as the Panthers took a 23-11 lead. The 3-pointer loomed large for the Panthers in the first half. Reserves Kaliph Grant (SR/Bronx, NY) and Michael Soffer (JR/Agoura Hills, CA) connected on two key 3s down the stretch of the first half.

Despite a strong run from the Privateers, Grant handed Purchase a 15-point lead on a 3 with 6:20 left in the period. Soffer made it 37-27 under two minutes on a 3 of his own.

Berrios hit two early 3s in the second half and Purchase led 47-33 in the first two minutes following the break.  

Maritime cut it to seven (51-44) on another run in the second half. This time, John Liccese fueled the run.

Purchase answered with a six-point spurt highlighted by a Cann dunk off a Soffer steal and assist.

Maritime called a timeout at 12:17 and trailed 62-49. It remained a 13-point lead (70-57) six minutes later, as Purchase responded to Maritime time and time again.

Cann and Max Pearce (SR/Tuckahoe, NY) dunks helped maintain the double-digit lead and close out the final minutes in the win column.

All five starters for Purchase scored in double figures. Cann netted a team-high 21 points and 16 rebounds. His double-double effort paced the Panthers, who also received 15 points from Berrios and 12 more from Tarik Allicock (SR/Brooklyn, NY). Pearce and Deleon added 10.

Not to be outdone, Cann also managed a game-high six assists, finishing the day with 21 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block.

Purchase's defense shouldn't be overlooked either. The Panthers totaled seven blocks and eight steals on the afternoon, limiting Maritime to 40 percent shooting.

The Privateers were led by MacDonald and his 25 points and 16 rebounds. Brendan McGovern chipped in 18 points in the loss.   

Purchase has won two games in the New Year and concluded the first half on a four-game winning streak. The Panthers will look to make it seven-in-a-row at Farmingdale State next Wednesday.