BOX SCORE
Purchase, NY – They did it again!
The Purchase College men's basketball team won its second straight Skyline Conference Championship and fourth in five years Saturday night at home, topping No. 2 Mount Saint Mary, 100-82.
In a game that featured the Skyline Conference Player of the Year (Andre Nixon, Purchase), the Skyline Coach of the Year (Ryan Kadlubowski. MSMC) and four All-Skyline selections from the conference's first team, the top-seeded Panthers, ranked No. 19 in the country, showed that star power isn't what championships are all about, overcoming the loss of Andre Nixon, who fouled out late. The Panthers also received significant contributions from several key reserves – most prominently point guard and playmaker Jake Stevens III, who finished with a near triple-double (team-high 17 points, team-high 10 assists and seven rebounds).
And then there was senior tri-captain David Haughton, fresh off his program-record (modern day since Purchase's return to NCAA status) 26 rebounds in the semifinal win over Old Westbury, who finished with an efficient 11 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes, anchoring the Panthers' defense and combining with fellow notables Nixon, Justin Person and Ryan Lobban to silence the Knights in the second half following an up-and-down, see-saw finale in the first 20 minutes.
There were plenty of stat stuffers for the home team tonight. Person totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and one assist in the contest. Center Joel Neri posted 15 points, 10 rebounds and one block. Nixon added 15 points on an off shooting night, going 5-of-16 from the field, and six rebounds before fouling out with 6:10 left to play in the game.
Lobban contributed 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and three blocks in a nice all-around effort.
In defeat, the Mount had its fair share of top guns tonight as well. All-Skyliner Donte Howell poured in a game-high 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Joe Stabach scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and picked one pocket in defeat for MSMC. All-Skyliner Chris Pisciotta snuck in 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists on the night.
Finally, MSMC's center Joe Henain had 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block in the contest.
In a game of few turnovers, nine for the Knights and six for the Panthers, it ultimately came down to efficient shooting, which Purchase had the most of.
The home team shot 47.3 percent from the field on the night, compared to the Knights' 38.9 percent. Free throws were also a major factor, as each team had 24 fouls. Mount Saint Mary did, however, control the assists, 21 to the Panthers' 14.
After Kadlubowski received a technical foul, Purchase mounted an 18-point lead with 15:34 left to play in the game and never looked back.
But the crowd saved its final chant for Isaac "Soup" Campbell. The popular reserve delivered once inserted into the game in the final minute, scoring the team's 100th point.
After the final buzzer sounded, the team, coaches and fans rejoiced on the hardwood and the players slowly but surely cut a piece of the net from their second-half basket.
For Charney and company, this is their fifth straight appearance in the Skyline Championship and their fourth title over that stretch. The Panthers will learn of their "March Madness" fate during Monday afternoon's selection show at 12:30 p.m. and as the top seed in the region, there is a strong possibility the program will host next weekend's opening rounds.
MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Finals
Saturday, Mar. 1
No. 1 Purchase 100, No. 2 Mount Saint Mary 82
Semifinals
Thursday, Feb. 27
No. 1 Purchase 88, No. 5 Old Westbury 73
No. 2 Mount Saint Mary 95, No. 3 Farmingdale State 75
First Round
Tuesday, Feb. 25
No. 5 Old Westbury 81, No. 4 Sage 69
No. 3 Farmingdale State 84, No. 6 St. Joseph's-L.I. 57
Recent Skyline Champions
2014 - Purchase
2013 - Purchase
2012 - Farmingdale State
2011 - Purchase
2010 - Purchase
2009 - Farmingdale State
2008 - St. Joseph's-L.I.
2007 - Manhattanville
2006 - Farmingdale State
2005 - Mount Saint Mary
2004 - Old Westbury