Purchase, NY (Feb. 13, 2018) – Purchase men's basketball celebrated seven seniors on Senior Night, ringing in the evening's festivities with a resounding 82-75 victory over second-place the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

The win moved then third-place Purchase (13-6) into a tie with the Dolphins for second (13-6). The two teams trail first-place Farmingdale State (14-4) by one game in the win column.  

It was the perfect home send off, playoffs withstanding for seniors Tarik Allicock (SR/Brooklyn, NY), Nikeem Deleon (SR/Bronx, NY), Brian Berrios (SR/New York, NY), Max Pearce (SR/Tuckahoe, NY), Kaliph Grant (SR/Bronx, NY), Deshawn Cann (JR/Queens, NY) and Michael Soffer (JR/Agoura Hills, CA) – "The Super 7!" (Pictured above, flanked by assistant coach Alexis Nunez (l.) and head coach Kyle Martin) Both Cann and Soffer have eligibility remaining, but may elect to graduate early this May.

From the coaching staff, the seniors received framed photos, "P" varsity letters, certificates of appreciation from the Sports Information office and will again be honored during the program's annual awards banquet in late April. Senior parents are invited to attend the awards ceremony at the Performing Arts Center.

The seniors were honored postgame following the victory, joining the women's basketball team and the Purchase College Cheerleading Team in a triple headlining Senior Night.

The men's program set the tone for the rest of the night.

Purchase led 8-4 three plus minutes in but consecutive field goals by CMSV tied the game.

A Vinny Tavella 3-pointer for the visitors made it 13-11 under 15 minutes.

Allicock answered back with a post hoop to knot the game at 13.

The lead continued to exchange hands. The Dolphins held a 19-14 advantage with nine minutes gone by in the opening period. 

Andrew Curiel made a big impact off the bench. His hoop under nine minutes increased the Dolphin lead to 24-16.

But Berrios, also entering the lineup off the bench, countered with a 3-pointer and followed with a score in transition to cut the deficit back to three (24-21) at 7:27.

The Dolphins extended to 28-22, but Rob Grullon (JR/Wallkill, NY) scored on a rebound and put back under six minutes to close back to 28-24, and Deleon converted on a conventional style three-point play to make it a one-point game.

The see-saw battled ensued. A 3 by Ammad Alkhulaidi made it 33-29 Mount. Then a Soffer 3 made it 33-32 in favor of CMSV. 

Cann tied the game 33-33 on a made free throw. Grullon countered once more with a runner in the lane.

A 3 by Matthew Sowah broke the tie and gave CMSV a 38-35 lead.

Allicock then broke though under the hoop and scored to cut the deficit to one with a little over a minute left in the half. 

Moments later, off a well-executed screen, Soffer tied the game at 40 on a 3-pointer.

Not to be outdone, the half ended with a made free throw by Tavella and a Cann score by Purchase, leaving the Panthers up 42-41 at intermission.  

Cann paced Purchase with 10 first-half points, matching Tavella for CMSV.

Allicock opened the second half with consecutive scores.

A Soffer long ball three-plus minutes in handed Purchase a 49-43 lead.

It was 53-49 approaching the 12-minute marker, when Cann padded the lead on a hoop (55-49).

Standout reserve Mike Felix (JR/Goshen, NY) stretched the lead to nine points on a three-point play, striking for two and the foul shot.

Purchase was now up 58-49 with 11-plus minutes to go.

The Panthers opened a 62-53 margin on another Felix score less than two minutes later.

Curiel and the Dolphins responded with a spurt. His score with a little over eight minutes left cut it to 62-57.

Purchase went on a run of its own. Grant upped the lead back to 10 (69-59) with under seven minutes to play.

The Dolphins fought back and closed to within six with under four minutes to play.

Cann's jumper in the lane with a minute-and-a-half to go re-extended the lead to seven points (75-68).

Free throws brought the Dolphins within five at 1:17, as the game went down to the wire.

But the Panthers sealed the victory with a steal by Cann and outpacing CMSV from the line in the closing minutes, including key free throws from Cann and Soffer down the stretch.

Cann led Purchase, who had five finish in double figures. He and Allicock netted double-doubles on the night. Cann finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Allicock added 12 points and 13 rebounds. 

Tavella finished with a team-high 16 points for CMSV in defeat. 

Notes: Four senior cheerleaders: Kristy Cappiello, Sarah Perry, Catie Persichilli and Chelsea Reyes were recognized. Coach Tiffany Charles put together a few words for each of the seniors. Their senior speeches are posted below, following the men's senior speech ... Berrios, who has eclipsed the 1,000-point marker for his career was also honored during the Senior Night presentation. He received a 1,000-point milestone basketball. The senior guard accomplished the feat between Bronx Community College and Purchase during a standout four-year career ... men's basketball wraps the regular season this weekend against Yeshiva ... The Skyline Conference Championship begins Feb. 20.


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Read Head Coach Kyle Martin's Senior Speech Below

This senior class began with the lone holdover from the prior staff, Kaliph Grant, who called me during the summer of 2015 with some pre-prepared questions to decide if he was going to stay at Purchase. I admired his fortitude and knew we wanted Kaliph to stay in the program. He was joined by the class's first recruit Max Pearce who transferred after visiting campus for 30 minutes with his brother on a Friday afternoon in the summer – at the time I didn't know if he hated his visit or just needed to get the car back to his family – but we're fortunate he decided to join us. Joining Kaliph and Max that fall was Michael Soffer, who may or may not be back next year so we're going to honor him today just to be safe. Mike emailed me numerous times to play and despite already having a full roster, and not knowing if he was good or not, we added Mike in anticipation we may lose some of the returnees ... 51 starts and 111 three pointers later, I think it's safe to say Mike is good enough.

The 2018 senior class was finalized in the fall of 2016 with the addition of four outstanding junior college transfers – Tarik Allicock, Brian Berrios, Deshawn Cann and Nikeem Deleon – they had a very corny moniker for themselves when they first got here, "Juco Takeover," or something, but eventually they stopped calling themselves that, which we are all thankful for. All four have had numerous accolades and great performances since donning the Purchase jersey, too long to go through right now as the women need to take the court soon; but since they became a class of seven they have won close to 70% of their games, including a 2-0 mark versus rival Manhattanville, have had a 10-4 non-conference mark, and have a win over nationally ranked team which was a first for any sport in athletics program history. Next week they will embark on the Skyline Conference tournament, something no member of this senior class has ever missed, with the goal of winning a championship. They have combined for 3,273 points, 1,593 rebounds and 669 assists; but the greatest thing they have done is improve individually and collectively on and off the court since they have arrived on campus. Their greatest strength is their resilience and they have received multiple academic honors, participated in numerous community service events (some of which they set up on their own), and have had zero discipline issues, proving you can win and be great representatives of Purchase College.

Ladies and gentleman our seven seniors – Tarik Allicock, Brian Berrios, Deshawn Cann, Nikeem Deleon, Kaliph Grant, Sheldon Maxwell Pearce and Michael Soffer.

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Cheer Team Senior Night 

Kristy Cappiello
As captain of the purchase college cheerleading team, kristy has helped us with so many things such as cheers for basketball games, and stunts for our halftime routine. She always comes into practice and games with a positive attitude and shows confidence in every member of the team. She makes everyone feel welcome and like they're as big a part of the team as anyone else is, including herself. Thank you to kristy for being such an amazing leader this season.
 
Sarah Perry
Sarah Perry is one of two co-captains of the purchase college cheerleading team. She helps us stay organized and takes full charge in doing so, which is something a lot of people usually wouldn't be interested in doing. We can always count on her to know times and places of every event we do, even ones a month away. Being one of our most talented dancers, we thank her for having a huge part in choreographing our routines, and being a leader to the team. 
 
Caitie Persichilli:
Caitie started with the purchase college cheerleading team in 2014.  She has truly seen the team grow into what it is today.  Caitie is the definition of a dedicated cheerleader!  She has always pushed her limits in practices and games.  She has always given advice on how we can make the team stronger and better with her extended knowledge in cheer.  Even when cheer isn't going on she is always looking up new dances, stunts, etc. To bring to each and every practice.
 
Chelsea Reyes:
Chelsea has been with the cheer team since 2014 as well.  At every practice she works so hard and takes critiques so well.  Anything we have asked her to do she has tried with confidence. Chelsea has taken on many other activities over the years but has still tried to commit as much time as possible to the purchase college cheer team.