PURCHASE, NY - And they're onto the Skyline Conference Semifinals!

With a 64-51 win Tuesday night, the No. 2 Purchase College men's basketball team topped the No. 7 Knights of Mount Saint Mary College in the Quarterfinals of the Skyline Conference Championships. 

The Panthers will now host the No. 6 Gryphons of Sarah Lawrence College on Thursday, February 27th at 7 p.m. 

Entering the contest and playoffs, the Panthers hadn't been playing their best ball, as they lost three of their final four games of the regular season, including the season finale against these same Knights.

Just three days prior, Mount Saint Mary topped Purchase, 75-70, as they shot 56 percent from the field in that win.

Entering the game tonight, the Panthers were on a mission to not let that same offense happen again. 

They didn't. 

Purchase held Mount Saint Mary to just 34 percent shooting overall and 22 percent from 3-point range on the night. In the first half, Purchase swarmed the Knights, limiting them to just 10 points during the first 13 minutes of action and 25 at the break.

Despite the incredible defensive effort, the Panthers' offense began the night slowly, putting up just four points during the opening minutes. However, that all changed with the hosts down, 8-4, with 15:06 left to go in the half.

Over the next seven and half minutes, Purchase embarked on one of their best scoring runs of the season, outscoring the opposition, 22-2. With the lead in their favor, 26-10, the Panthers looked well on their way to an easy victory. 

But Mount Saint Mary didn't give in that easily. After all, the two times these two teams played in the regular season, both games were decided by single-digit margins (78-70 in a PC win and 75-70 in the MSMC win).

Over the final seven plus minutes of the frame, the guests managed to cut the deficit in half and trailed by the score of 33-25 at the break.

In the second half, Purchase started hot, pushing its advantage back to double figures, 38-26, with 17:58 to go. 

But just like they had done all night, Mount Saint Mary fought back.

With the deficit at 11 points, 39-28 with 16:27 remaining, the Knights answered by scoring 12-straight points over the next four minutes to regain the lead for the first time since early in the first half.

Despite the scoring drought, the Panthers never looked unnerved as they knew the game was still wide open.

Finally, after six minutes of scoreless play, Purchase broke the streak with an 8-0 run to regain the lead, 47-40, with 8:28 left. Over the next four minutes, the two sides traded baskets, as the hosts maintained their lead.

The Knights did manage to cut the margin to just three points, 51-48, with 4:14 to go, but that was as close they got the rest of the way.

From there, the Panthers answered with a 7-0 run to push their lead back to double-digits, as they held on for the victory, 64-51. The 51-points allowed were a season-low by the Panthers.

On the night, Purchase shot 43 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from long range. The hosts also enjoyed a major advantage in the rebounding battle, winning it 45-26. 

Individually, Maxx Miller (SR/White Plains, NY) led all players with 19 points in the win. He also grabbed nine rebounds and two steals. 

Jorge Perdomo (JR/Bronx, NY) finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Elijah Lott (SR/Albany, NY) tallied 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

Andre Peguero (JR/Boynton Beach, FL) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Elijah Harris (SR/Flushing, NY) added nine points, five rebounds and five assists for Purchase.

For the Knights, Kendall Francis (SR/Great Neck, NY) and Paul Sienke (JR/Washington, D.C.) each recorded 13 points in the effort.

Up next for the Panthers are the Skyline Conference Semifinals against No. 6 Sarah Lawrence College. Sarah Lawrence advanced Tuesday night following its upset win over No. 3 Manhattanville, 75-66.

During the regular season, Sarah Lawrence topped Purchase in both contests (79-73 in OT and 89-80), so the matchup is sure to be a slugfest. 

The semifinals battle is set for February 27th at 7 p.m. You can follow it here.