PURCHASE, N.Y. - It would have been easy for the Purchase College men's basketball team to just give up Thursday night.

The Panthers trailed by as many as 15 points midway through the second half, in the final game before winter break, playing a non-conference foe.

By they never gave up. 

In fact, the Blue and Orange not only rose to the challenge presented to them, they overcame it in spectacular fashion to secure one of their best wins in recent memory.

In the end, Purchase topped Mitchell College in overtime, as Trey Skeete nailed the game-winning 3-pointer with just three seconds left to send the Panthers off as winners, 82-79.

Skeete (SO/Brooklyn, NY), who came off the bench to play a crucial 35 minutes, finished with 13 points and was promptly mobbed by his teammates as Mitchell's last-second desperation chance missed the mark.

The game-winning shot was setup off a driving assist from Mahamadou Nimaga (SR/Bronx, NY), who found Skeete waiting in the corner. Despite a hand in his face, the sophomore buried the bucket.

While the Blue and Orange prevailed in the end, it was the Mariners of Mitchell College that controlled the tempo throughout. In fact, out of 45 minutes of game time, Purchase lead for just two minutes of it.

During the opening 20 minutes, the guests pushed their lead to as many as 12 points, before carrying a nine-point margin into halftime, 30-21.

Once the second half began, the Panthers tried to fight their way back, getting the margin down to seven points on a few occasions early on. However, Mitchell continued to hold firm.

The Mariners then began to pull away, extending the advantage to its biggest of the night, 15 points, with just 10:31 to go.

With the score now, 54-39, in favor of the guests, the pressure was on the Blue and Orange. 

But in the end, it didn't even phase them.

Over the final 10 minutes of regulation, the hosts outscored Mitchell, 30-15, as Matthew Phillips (JR/Bronx, NY) nailed the game-tying layup with five seconds to go.

With the score now tied at 69-all, the Panthers headed to their first overtime game of the season.

During the five-minute period, the biggest lead for either side was just three points as it remained tight throughout.

In the end, the hosts had the ball last and made the most of the final possession, as they now enter the holiday break with a major W.

For the night, Purchase shot just 37.8% from the field, but made up for it on 3-pointers (47.1%) and free throws (90%).

Meanwhile, the Mariners tallied a better field goal percentage at 49.2%, but struggled mightily on 3's (18.2%) and free throws (63%).

The Panther defense continued to shine in the victory, just like it has all season, as the squad created 26 turnovers, 12 steals and seven blocks.

On offense, the Blue and Orange had a well-rounded attack, as five players finished in double figures. Leading the charge was Nimaga and his team-high 16 points.

Phillips finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, while Wesley Fulcher (JR/Fishkill, NY) scored a career-high 14 points, including three 3-pointers. 

Skeete recorded a season-high 13 points and three assists, while Isaac Johnson (SR/Bronx, NY) added 11 points and two steals.

Up next for Purchase men's basketball are two weeks of rest for the holidays, before the team returns to action on December 29th for the Medgar Evers College Tournament. In the opening game, the Panthers will face Mount Aloysius College at 4 p.m. and then play again the following day.