THROGGS NECK, N.Y. ­– Despite a solid second half comeback attempt, the Maritime basketball team was unable to catch up to the Purchase Panthers after a poor offensive first half, dropping a Skyline Conference matchup on Wednesday evening at Riesenberg Gym, 95-68.

Maritime was strongly led by Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) who tied his season-high with 27 points on a .611 field goal shooting effort. MacDonald, now just eight points shy of 1,000 career points, last netted 27 points when the Privateers opened up their season against Lehman on November 15^th. The junior also added a conservative eight boards on the night, snapping his double double streak at eight games. Following MacDonald was junior John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) who finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists.  

The Privateers were ice cold throughout the entirety of the first half, making only nine of their 26 field goals, while also not putting a three-point basket through out of eight attempts. The Panthers pounced on Maritime right off the bat going on a 9-0 run to start, but two Liccese free throws at the 15:39 mark interrupted the run. MacDonald finally sunk the first Privateer two-pointer just over three minutes later, but the Panthers continued to hold a substantial lead, 15-4. With 4:31 left in the first half, Purchase found themselves leading by 27 points, their largest lead of the first half. With five seconds left in the first frame, Brian Berrios put in a three-point shot to send the Privateers into the locker room trailing, 53-28.

The Privateers saw improved shooting in the second half, making 46-percent of field goals in the latter frame and were only outscored by a slim two points, 42-40. Liccese opened up the second half scoring for the Privateers, nailing his first three-point basket of the game within a minute of the start. Shortly after, the Panthers used a 9-0 run powered by three consecutive three-point baskets, extending the Purchase lead to the largest of the game at 34. The Privateers then went on to score eight straight points behind three MacDonald field goals and a Liccese layup, but still never able to fully catch up. The Maritime defense then went on to shut out the Panthers for nearly five minutes before a Givvion Jones layup was made with 4:37 to play. Sophomore James Bonner (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) put in the Privateers final bucket of the contest, a three-point basket with twenty seconds remaining.

With the loss, Maritime falls to 8-13 overall and 3-9 in the Skyline Conference. Purchase improves to 14-8 on the season, and 8-5 in league play.

Maritime will look to bounce back on the road at Mount St. Mary for a 2:00 P.M. contest on February 11^th. The squad will then follow that game up with a three-game stretch of home contests.

The Panthers will next play host to the Sarah Lawrence Gryphons at home, also on February 11^th.