NEW YORK, NY - The Purchase College men's basketball team was defeated by 24th-ranked Yeshiva University Thursday night, falling by the score of 86-73 in a Skyline Conference battle.
The loss ended Purchase's six-game winning streak and helped solidify the Maccabees of Yeshiva as the top team in the conference. The Panthers' record now stands at 12-6 overall and 7-2 in the conference. The 7-2 mark is tied with Manhattanville and Old Westbury for second place in the standings.
As for Yeshiva, who broke into the national top-25 earlier this week, the Maccabees are now an impressive 16-1 overall, 9-0 in the Skyline and extended their winning streak to 16 games.
To start the contest, the two sides battled as the score remained close. During the first 10 minutes, Purchase never trailed by more than five points and was able to respond to Yeshiva's early punches.
However, with 9:42 remaining in the opening half, that narrative began to change quickly.
Following an and-one from
Jorge Perdomo (JR/Bronx, NY), which cut the Panthers' deficit to one point, 23-22, Yeshiva reeled off 15-straight points to finally put some separation between the two squads.
The hosts maintained their double-digit margin the rest of the half and headed into the break leading by the score of 44-33.
During the first half, Purchase shot just 34.2% from the field and missed opportunities it had converted all season.
While Purchase was able to right the ship a bit in the second half, it didn't matter in the end because the Maccabees' offense never slowed down. Over the final 20 minutes of action, the Panthers never got closer than 12 points, as Yeshiva earned the important win at home, 86-73.
Despite the result, the Panthers took away many important lessons for down the line if the two schools were to meet again in the Skyline Conference Playoffs later this month.
Individually, Perdomo led Purchase on the night with a team-high 18 points.
Maxx Miller (SR/White Plains, NY) added 14 points, while
Elijah Harris (SR/Flushing, NY) chipped in 12 points.
Elijah Lott (SR/Albany, NY) finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the loss.
For Yeshiva, it was the Simcha Halpert show. Halpert (SR/Los Angeles, CA) finished with a game-high 33 points, as he nailed seven 3-pointers in the win.
Up next for the Panthers is another important and tough Skyline matchup, this time against The College at Old Westbury.
Purchase will travel to Long Island this weekend (February 1st) for a Battle of the Panthers, as both Purchase and Old Westbury enter with 7-2 records in the conference.
Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and you can follow it right here.
