Purchase, NY (Jan. 26, 2019) – The Purchase Panthers shot 61.2 percent en route to a 79-52 win over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Saturday afternoon.

The victory marked the second-straight for the home team as the Panthers move to 11-9 overall and 9-6 in Skyline Conference play. In defeat, USMMA drops to 6-12 overall and 4-10 in the league.

Both teams exchanged baskets to open the game, resulting in four lead changes in the first seven minutes. Trailing 13-10 with 13:05 on the clock, Purchase's Willie Britton (/SRQueens, NY) connected from beyond the arc to even the score (13-13). On the next PC possession, Elijah Lott (JR/East Greenbush, NY) put up two points on a pass from Britton to give the Panthers a 15-13 edge over USMMA.

Purchase never relinquished its lead, stretching it to as many as 15 (35-20) in the first half. The Panthers closed the opening stanza with a comfortable 49-36 advantage. 

Lott (15) and Britton (11) combined for 26 of PC's 49 first-half points. 

Purchase continued to dominate after the break. With less than 15 minutes left in regulation, Purchase collected eight unanswered points thanks to a Maxx Miller (JR/White Plains, NY) layup, two free throws and a layup from Marcus Richardson (SO/Elmont, NY) and a Britton layup. 

The Panthers answered every shot made by USMMA in the final 10 minutes and closed with a 9-0 run to secure the 79-52 Skyline victory.

Britton led all scorers with 23 points and an impressive five steals. Lott netted 17 points, to go along with a game-high 8 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Miller and Michael Soffer (SR/Agoura Hills, CA) rounded out the double digit scoring for Purchase with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

David Washington put up 12 points to lead USMMA.

The Panthers look to continue their winning ways on the road at St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) Tuesday (Jan. 29). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.