BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Purchase College men's basketball team was defeated despite a valiant effort Wednesday night, falling to St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn, 83-81.

With the result, the Panthers moved to 6-13 overall and 4-6 in the Skyline Conference. For the Bears, they jumped to 5-13 and 2-7, respectively.

In the first half, the action was close until the waning moments as the hosts pulled away to lead by 13 points at the break, 46-33.

In the second frame, the Bears continued to pace the action as they grew the advantage to as many as 16 points.

Even as the contest entered the homestretch, Purchase continued to trail by a large margin, including an 11-point deficit with just over two minutes to play.

But the Blue and Orange never gave up, and fought to the very end.

Over the two-minute span, the Panthers cut the deficit to just a single point twice, and even had a chance to send the game to overtime, before the final chance missed the mark at the buzzer.

Overall, Purchase shot 41.2 percent from the field and 30 percent from long range, while St. Joseph's tallied totals of 46 and 22.7 percent, respectively.

Free throws and rebounds favored the hosts, but the Panthers kept things tight by winning the turnover battle, 17-11.

Individually, Trey Skeete (SR/Brooklyn, NY) finished with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Desmond Ward (SR/Queens, NY) also added 19 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Sean Holzman (JR/Putnam Valley, NY) chipped in a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.

Up next for the squad is a return home against St. Joseph's University-Long Island on January 31st at noon.