PURCHASE, N.Y. - Top-seeded Purchase men’s basketball cut down the nets Saturday night at home, winning its second consecutive Skyline Conference championship crown with an 81-66 victory over No. 3 St. Joseph’s College-LI.
No. 1 Purchase is now heading to the NCAA DIII Tournament after wrapping up back-to-back league titles and its 13th straight win. The red-hot Panthers made some history, too. They are the first Skyline preseason No. 1 squad to win it all. They also joined elite company by taking the title in successive years.
March Madness for the Panthers kicks off later next week, but they will surely spend the remainder of this weekend soaking up the win before gearing up for a run at the Final Four. Before the largest home crowd in history, Purchase improved its impressive overall record to 22-4 this season, while beating one of the best teams in the region.
The Panthers victory was highlighted by a dynamic evening from sharp-shooting guard Michael McNair (SR/Valley Cottage, NY). McNair, who joined the team last winter as junior transfer from Sullivan Community College, brought that winning tradition with him to Purchase. The Panther guard, who won JUCO titles before joining Purchase, is one of 10 members on the team to win back-to-back titles (only new transfer Beijon Warrington (JR/Bronx, NY) wasn’t on the team last winter).
McNair was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player following a sizzling display of 3s, especially in the first half where he connected on five 3-pointers for 18 points. He would go on to score 23, sharing the game-high with SJC-LI guard Olivier Laurent.
In the opening stanza, the Panthers led 15-7 six minutes into the game, utilizing a hot start from McNair and company. He was fouled beyond the arc at 13:43 and made all three free throws for an 18-8 lead. A jumper by Warrington at 11:57 gave Purchase a 10-point cushion (20-10). Later, Angel Gonzalez (SR/Congers, NY) increased the first-half lead to 12 points on a layup as the Panthers ran away it.
Fired up by the home crowd and a sparkling introduction that included a nice rendition of the National Anthem by Purchase baseball player Phil Sanford, tri-captain Marvin Billups (SR/Chester, NY) slammed down an emphatic dunk at the 6:12 mark to hand the Panthers a 37-20 lead.
Purchase led by as many as 20 in the first half when McNair drilled another 3 (5:41).
SJC-LI would not go quietly though. The resilient Golden Eagles, fresh off an impressive 78-75 win against Mount Saint Mary in their conference semifinal, cut the lead to nine after the break on a Chris Jimenez layup.
The Panthers responded behind a three-point play by Warrington at 13:08 in the second half. Justin Walters (SR/Tarrytown, NY) assisted Warrington on the play. Shortly later, the reserve forward nailed a jumper – two more of his nine points for the game – to give Purchase a 62-50 lead with around 12 minutes to go.
With SJC-LI making a push for a comeback, Purchase turned it up a notch. Laurent hit a 3 at 10:23 to cut the lead to 12 (62-53), but another highlight reel layup from Billups, the reigning Skyline Player of the Year, and a Warrington and McNair layup and score made it 71-53 at the 8:40 mark.
The seesaw battle continued. However, the Golden Eagles would only get as close as 12 points inside the final four minutes when Laurent connected on another long range shot.
The Panthers sealed the win on a Billups layup and a Walters free throw inside a minute.
The Golden Eagles had four players finish in double figures.
Meanwhile, Purchase got contributions throughout. In addition to the Big Three of McNair, Billups and Orgias, six of the eight other players factored into the scoring. Charles Thompson (SR/Upper Marlboro, MD) added eight points and four blocks. Gonzalez finished with five points and a game-high six assists. Derrick Stanton (JR//New Windsor, NY) also scored four points in eight minutes of action.
The Panthers will learn their next destination during Selection Monday – this Monday, Feb. 28.
NOTES: The game was televised on the web at D3Hoops.com…Saturday was “Black Out Night.” The first 50 students received a black commemorative championship t-shirt…The Panthers hosted “White Out Night” in the semifinal win over Old Westbury Thursday...McNair had 21 points in the semifinal and scored a combined 44 points between the two games…The Panthers outshot SJC-LI 41.1 to 33.8 percent for the game…They also won the rebounding margin (43-42) and forced 12 turnovers while limiting themselves to nine for the contest…Billups had four of the team’s nine steals.
2011 Skyline Conference Men’s Basketball Championship
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 22
#3 St. Joseph’s 68, #6 Mount Saint Vincent 60
#5 Old Westbury 98 #4 Farmingdale State 96 (2OT)
Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 24
St. Joseph’s 78 #2 Mount Saint Mary 75 (OT)
#1 Purchase 85 Old Westbury 74
Championship Game – Saturday, Feb. 26
Purchase 81, St. Joseph's 66