Clinton, N.Y. – The Purchase College men's basketball cut a 12-point first-half deficit against Hamilton into a one-possession game.

But it was a tale of two halves.

Hamilton opened up its lead after a slew of offensive rebounds, second-chance points and Purchase's costly turnovers, turning the momentum of that stretch into an 84-61 victory Saturday afternoon.   

The Continentals broke the scoring ice for the game with back-to-back layups from Elliott Tirbaso and Conner Rood, respectively, before senior guard Jordan Knochen (Maybrook, NY) connected in the paint to put Purchase up on the board.

Both sides traded baskets in the minutes to follow with Hamilton continuing to hold a slight advantage over the visitors. With 11 minutes remaining in the half, the Continental offense erupted with a 13-0 run to stretch their lead to 15 (30-15).

Purchase slowly chipped away at the deficit and closed the half with seven unanswered points (42-37).

Purchase stayed hot in the opening minutes of the second half after Knochen dropped dimes to Malcom Hansford-Whyte (SR/Queens, NY) and Matthew Phillips (FR/Bronx, NY) to bring the team within one point of Hamilton (42-41). The Panther defense also contributed to the strong second-half start, holding the hosts scoreless and forcing a trio of turnovers in the opening minutes.   

Despite their efforts, however, the Panthers could not keep the momentum going. The team went cold just as quickly as they went hot.

Hamilton fired back with a 31-5 run over the next 10 minutes. A Max Frieshtat triple would later give the home team its largest lead of the night, 83-52 (+31).

Purchase was able to lessen the blow with a 9-1 run in the final minutes to close the game in defeat, 84-61.

Hamilton saw double-digit scoring efforts from Hank Morgan (14), Tirbaso (12) and Liam Regan (11). Patrick Mogan led the Colonial defense with 10 rebounds.

Hansford-Whyte led all scorers and notched a career-high mark with 22 points.  He also chipped in five boards and four assists. Erich Block (SR/Warwick, NY) capped the double-digit scoring efforts with 15 points off the bench. Phillips tallied seven points and teamed up with Terrence Mason (JR/Greenburgh, NY) for 10 rebounds.