PURCHASE, N.Y. – Purchase led by eight at halftime, but couldn't hold off visiting Manhattanville over the final 20 minutes in a 74-65 loss Saturday at home.

Manhattanville (10-7, 7-3 Skyline) now sits atop the Skyline North Division and No. 2 overall, while Purchase (4-15, 4-7 Skyline) falls to fourth in the division and ninth in the overall standings.

Despite being tagged with the loss, Purchase saw hot shooting from senior guard Malcolm Handsford-Whyte (Queens, NY). The Panther veteran connected on 6-of-12 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 at the foul line to lead all scorers with 21 points. 

Eric Block (SR/Warwick, NY) came off the bench to tally 13 points, while Justin Mason (FR/Staten Island, NY) and Elijah Holmes (SO/Brooklyn, NY) chipped in with 10 points apiece. Holmes paced the Panther defense with eight rebounds, while Terrence Mason (JR/Greenburgh, NY) produced a game-high three blocks.

For the visitors, Tommy Lotito and Jake Dunn teamed up to lead the Manhattanville offense with 18 and 12 points, respectively. 

Purchase started strong, netting 10 unanswered points in the opening minutes. Hansford-Whyte broke the scoring ice with a jumper and Justin Mason followed with another swish off the fastbreak. The dynamic duo struck again with back-to-back 3's on Purchase's next two possessions.

Manhattanville remained scoreless until a Lotito jumper at 16:26.

Purchase continued to fire away, eventually stretching its lead to 14 points (29-15) with less than four minutes left in the half. Manhattanville, however, rallied with a 9-3 run to come within eight points of the hosts at the break. 

The Panthers led 32-24 at halftime. Despite going cold in the final minutes, Purchase shot 50% (12-for-24) in the stanza.

The Valiants stayed hot on their return from the locker room, holding a 14-5 advantage over the opening five minutes. A Mike Granda 3-pointer at 15:05 (38-37) was the first go-ahead play for the visitors but the only one they would need en route to the 74-65 comeback win.

The Panthers looks to bounce back from Saturday's loss when the team returns to its home court on Monday (Feb. 7). Purchase will play host to Skyline foe Mount Saint Mary College at 8 p.m.