PURCHASE, NY - A strong second-half performance by the Cardinals of Wesleyan University sent the Purchase College men's basketball team to a loss Tuesday night, 85-74.

In the second frame, the guests outscored the Panthers, 61-43, with some incredible shooting. The Cardinals (3-0) blazed to 66% shooting overall and 67% from three-point range over the 20 minutes.

Despite the offense from the guests, Purchase (0-3) held tough and actually led most of the second half. The hosts were in front until 3:50 remained in the game, as a free throw by Wesleyan gave the guests a 68-67 lead.

From there, the Cardinals pulled away by outscoring the Panthers, 15-3, over the next three minutes to secure the win.

To begin the night, Wesleyan scored two of the first three baskets for a 4-2 lead. But from then on, it was all Purchase. The Panthers scored eight straight to jump out to a 10-4 advantage with just under four minutes played and held the lead the rest of the half.

Purchase eventually pushed the margin to as many as eight points in the opening 20 minutes, before settling for a 31-24 halftime lead. To start the second half, Kyle Menard (SO/Paramus, NJ) nailed a jumper and gave the hosts their biggest advantage of the night at nine points.

However, the hot shooting of Wesleyan slowly melted the Panthers' lead away, as the guests were able to escape with the 85-74 win.

Overall, the Panthers lead 32 of 40 minutes on the night and outscored the guests in points off turnovers (20-9), points in the paint (34-24) and fast-break points (26-15). But the shooting and rebounding (58-44) of Wesleyan proved to be the difference in the end. Plus, Purchase only shot 36% overall and 29% from three.

Elijah Lott (JR/Albany), who was just named to the Skyline Conference Weekly Honor Roll earlier in the day, continued his fantastic start to the season with 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and six assists. 

Menard finished with 16 points, which was the most of his young Purchase career, while Jorge Perdomo (JR/Bronx, NY) added 14 points in the effort.

For Wesleyan, Joe DeLollo (SO/Latham, NY) scored 20 points to lead the way, while Sam Peek (SO/Poughkeepsie, NY) added 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Up next for the Panthers is the Scotty Wood Tournament, which will be hosted by Muhlenberg College this weekend. Purchase will battle against Neumann University on November 22nd at 3 p.m.