PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Connecticut College men's basketball team picked up a 71-62 victory at Purchase College on Tuesday night in non-conference action at SUNY Gymnasium.

Elias Espinosa (Leonia, N.J.) scored a game-high 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting and drilled six three-pointers to lead the Camels. Ben Rice (Hanson, Mass.) chipped in a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds while David Murray (Jackson Heights, N.Y.) tacked on 12 points in his season debut.

The Camels opened the game with six straight points that included a pair of buckets from Murray to grab the early lead. Conn led by as many as 12 in the half and never trailed, taking a 37-32 advantage into the locker room at intermission.

The Panthers got within three early in the second stanza, but the Camels responded with a 9-0 run that was capped by a fast break layup by Jarron Flynn (Roslindale, Mass.). Conn then led by double digits until the 10-minute mark, when Murray was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul.

Purchase trimmed the deficit down to six with 4:27 left before Murray made his way back into the game. The Camels went to him on their first trip down the floor, and the senior responded with a bucket in the paint. On Conn's ensuing possession, Espinosa canned a three that brought the margin back to nine.

The Camels clamped down on defense late, limiting the Panthers to only three points over the final 3:30. Conn forced 16 turnovers in the contest and finished with nine steals and seven blocks.

Matthew Phillips paced Purchase with 14 points 

Conn (2-0 overall) will next play at Roger Williams University on Saturday, November 18 at 1:00 p.m.