MAHWAH, N.J. - The Purchase College men's basketball team lost a tight contest Saturday afternoon, falling at Ramapo College by the score of 78-67 in a non-conference matchup.

With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 2-2 overall. For the Roadrunners, they improved to 2-1.

For Purchase, the guests enjoyed a quick start to the contest by scoring five of the first seven points, and seven of the first 11.

The Panthers maintained the lead until the 13:30 mark, when a pair of Ramapo free throws tied it at 10-10.

From there, the Roadrunners lead nearly the entire rest of the contest, sans a tie score two minutes later at 16-16. 

Their biggest lead of the first half came with just over five minutes to go, when the hosts pushed the advantage to 12 points, 30-18.

However, over the final minutes of the frame, the Panthers slashed that margin in half to trail, 37-31 at halftime.

Once the two teams resumed action in the second half, Purchase's deficit ebbed and flowed between 5-to-12 points over the first 12 minutes. 

As the game ticked toward its conclusion, the Panthers and Roadrunners continued their fight with the action closer than ever.

Over the final minutes, Purchase cut the deficit to four points or less 10 times, including to just one point with under five minutes to go.

Unfortunately, the guests couldn't break through and were unable to regain the lead in the second half, as Ramapo escaped with the lead.

Overall, the Panthers shot 36.9 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from three-point range. For the hosts, they shot 42 and 40 percent, respectively.

Individually, Matthew Phillips (SO/Bronx, NY) enjoyed his second-straight double double with a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

Isaac Johnson (JR/Bronx, NY) was the only other Panther in double digits as he finished with 10 points.

Up next for the men's basketball team is the beginning of Skyline Conference play, as the squad hosts the defending champion, Yeshiva University, on November 22nd at 7:30 p.m.