Rams Hold On, Defeat Purchase 77-72

Taking on two opponents Tuesday, the team had to contend with Skyline Conference rival Purchase College (9-3, 5-2) and with an impending snowstorm that was set to hit Long Island in full force.

The Rams (8-5, 7-1) withheld a late charge by the Panthers, and squeaked out a win against a worthy Purchase opponent, 77-72. Whether the Rams were going to be able to navigate their way to their next game through the snowstorm is another story.

The Rams were lead by a trio of scores who all at 14 points: junior guards Josh Smith, and Dyshaun Flournoy, and senior guard Keith Nandin.

Marvin Billups of the Panthers lead all scorers with 27 points.

Turning Point: Hard to say in a game like this. Both teams played nip-and-tuck throughout the contest. The Panther’s fate was sealed however, after Purchase’s Derrick Stanton missed a 3-pointer with seconds left, that would have tied the game at 75. Josh Smith of the Rams then raced down the court on the ensuing long rebound, and slammed the rock home for the final exclamation point.

Heroes: Credit goes to Smith, Flournoy and Nandin, whose leadership didn’t let the game slip totally out of hand, after almost losing a 17-point lead in the second half. And lots of credit to the hearty Rams fans, who came out in considerable numbers, despite the impending storm outside.

Quotable: “It was a great win for us. Purchase was a pre-season number-one pick for the Skyline Conference. They have some great talent, and they’re well-coached,” said coach Erik Smiles. “We did a good job denying Billups, and we did a good job sharing the ball on offense for much of the game…we’re now in second place, and we control our destiny. But we have a lot of games yet to play.”

Bottom Line: It wasn’t always pretty, but the Rams got a crucial win against a tough opponent.

Who’s Next: The Rams go on the road to take on the St. Joseph’s Eagles, Jan. 15 at 5:30 pm.