http://www.purchasecollegeathletics.com/news/2014/2/8/MBB_0208140619.aspx?path=mbball
By Jeziel Jimenez
Purchase, NY (Feb. 8, 2014) – Purchase College faced some rough waters early against SUNY Maritime, but quickly sailed away to a 72-50 win Saturday at home.
No. 20 Purchase won the tip and went toe-to-toe in a competitive matchup through the game's opening 10 minutes before the powerhouse Panthers flexed their muscles and coasted to another conference win. The first-place Panthers improved to 18-1 overall and remain perfect in the Skyline Conference standings (12-0). The loss dropped Maritime to 3-18 overall and 1-13 in the league.
An undersized and undermanned Maritime squad came out the gate and shot well beyond the arc, but the Privateers quickly looked overmatched as the Panthers barreled out to a 20-point lead at the half (42-22).
Brendon Halligan led the privateers with 13 points. He and Kevin Heine, who had 11 points, led the offensive effort for the Privateers as the two combined for six of the team's eight 3s.
Unfortunately for Maritime, tri-captains Andre Nixon (SR/Harlem, NY) and Justin Person (JR/Greenburgh, NY) were at the top of their games, scoring 14 and 15 points apiece, respectively. Person, who led all scorers for the game, had an impressive all-round performance as well. He hauled in seven rebounds, dished out five assists and he had three steals.
Big man Joel Neri (JR/Port Chester, NY) led Purchase in rebounds with nine of Purchase's 42 total boards. Despite Maritime's best efforts, they were still outrebounded by Neri and the Panthers, 42-28.
Maritime never gave up on the game, but the tenacious play of the Privateers could only last so long. Five minutes into the second half, two free-throws by David Haughton (SR/Greenburgh, NY) pushed the lead up to 30 points. At which point head coach Jeff Charney began to make use of his reserve players.
Even though the Panthers were clear ahead of Maritime, Purchase never let up. In the final minutes of the game, the intensity stayed high, with fan favorite Isaac "Soup" Campbell making a couple diving plays for the Panthers.
Brandon Sillaro (JR/Patchogue, NY), Franklyn Mickens (FR/Glen Cove, NY), Creig Graves (SO/Harlem, NY), and Anthony Walker (SO/Mount Vernon, NY) played well off the bench in the win, with Sillaro and Mickens adding seven points each and Graves and Walker chipping in six and five, respectively.
Purchase, which has won four straight since its lone defeat at Albertus Magnus, has reeled off 10 straight wins at home this campaign and has not lost a conference game since the midway point of last season. The defending conference champion Panthers will return to action tomorrow at Yeshiva as they round the rest of their 25-game schedule.