JAMAICA, NY - After a slow start to the 2019-20 season, the Purchase College men's basketball team has suddenly found its groove, as the Panthers toppled Gwynedd Mercy University Friday night, 80-73.

The victory was the Panthers' fourth in a row and came on day one of the York College Invitational. Purchase will now take on SUNY Potsdam tomorrow (12/14) at 3 p.m. in the championship game. 

Entering the night, the Panthers knew they would have their hands full, as the Griffins of Gwynedd Mercy started the contest with a 6-1 record and made the NCAA Tournament last year. 

However, the Panthers were up for the task from the get-go.

In the opening half, the two sides traded baskets to start, before Purchase was able to jump ahead, 10-8, with just over five minutes played. From there, Purchase maintained its lead the rest of the frame, extending its advantage to as many as 10 points.

But just like the Panthers, the Griffins knew they were in for a battle all-game long. At halftime, the margin was just four points, 36-32, in favor of Purchase.

In the second half, it didn't take long for Gwynedd Mercy to strike back, as the Griffins outscored Purchase, 16-5, over the first five minutes of the frame. 

That put Purchase in an all-too-familiar situation: trailing in the second half after a first-half lead. During the first four games of the season, the Panthers were unable to bounce-back after giving up the lead, but over the past few games that hadn't been the case.

It wasn't going to be the case tonight either.

Not only did the Panthers comeback on the night, but they did so against a great Gwynedd Mercy team that shot 59% in the second half. 

After trailing by its biggest deficit of the game, 48-41, Purchase embarked on a 24-17 run to tie the contest at 65-65 with five minutes to go. From there, Elijah Lott (JR/Albany, NY) converted a layup to give the Panthers the lead for good, as they held off the Griffins for the win.

While each side shot the ball well on the night, Purchase finished just a bit better than Gwynedd Mercy. The Panthers went 52.6% from the field. Meanwhile, the Griffins shot 45.5%.

Lott did his usual thing, leading all scorers with 21 points in the effort. Jorge Perdomo (JR/Bronx, NY) finished with 14 points and Andre Peguero (Boynton Beach, FL) recorded the first double-double of his Purchase career, tallying 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

The senior trio of Maxx Miller (White Plains, NY), Elijah Harris (Flushing, NY) and Brian Hardy (New York, NY) each added nine points in the win. 

For the Griffins, Austin Harriott (SR/Philadelphia, PA) and Rich Dunham (SR/Norristown, PA) finished with 16 points apiece. 

Up next for the Panthers is the final game of 2019, the York College Invitational Championship against SUNY Potsdam. Potsdam enters the game with a 6-2 record and you can follow it right here at 3 p.m. tomorrow (12/14).