The Maritime College men's basketball team opened up Skyline Conference action with a tough matchup against Purchase College. A strong second half push gave the Privateers a slim lead late, but the Panthers were able to pull away and win 92-79.
 
Maritime started off hot on offense as they converted four of their first five shots, and all shots were converted inside the paint. Purchase was eventually able to take a double digit lead later in the first half, but back-to-back three point shots from Alec Downes (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) cut the advantage to six points. With the half coming to a close, Jaylin Gray (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth) ended it on a strong note as he converted an and-one with 30 seconds left to put the score at 41-35 in favor of Purchase.
 
The Privateers came out firing to start the second half as buckets from Gray, Griffin McNally (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Nicholas Ovanessian (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) made it a four-point game. A few minutes later, three-point shots from Downes and Sean Flynn (Flushing, NY/Holy Cross) kept it a close game and set-up the comeback for Maritime.
 
Down 60-55 with 10 minutes left to play, a driving layup from Gray and a three-pointer from Mike Regan (Dix Hills, N.Y./St. Anthony's) made it a one-point game. A few possessions later, another strong finish from Gray gave Maritime their first lead since the beginning of the game at 64-63 with seven minutes left to play.
 
Unfortunately, their lead didn't last long and Purchase took the advantage back. The Privateers held it to a one possession game with under four minutes to play, but the Panthers were able to come up with the clutch baskets when they needed it and pulled away late.
 
Gray put up his best game of the season so far with a team-high 17 points, while Brennan Whelan (Northport, N.Y./Northport) chipped in16 of his own. Downes also added a double-digit performance off the bench with 14 points. McNally led the team on the boards with eight.
 
The Privateers will continue conference action next Saturday on the road at Mount Saint Mary at 1:00 p.m.