PURCHASE, N.Y. – Following a strong first half that included a 14-2 run to take hold of the momentum, the Manhattanville College men's basketball team picked up yet another Skyline Conference win – its fourth straight – with the 78-63 home victory over St. Joseph's College-Long Island at Kennedy Gymnasium on Tuesday night, Jan. 28. The Valiants led by as many as 26 points with just under 11:00 remaining in regulation en route to the 15-point win.
 
The Crimson and White (11-6, 6-2 Skyline) were once again led by senior JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) and junior Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph). The former led all players with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 from the floor to go with seven boards and a block, while the ladder scored all 13 of his points in the first and went 3-of-6 from three for the game, adding a game-best-tying five assists, four rebounds and a steal.
 
Following a slow start to the first half in which the Valiants fell behind to the Golden Eagles (5-11, 0-8 Skyline) by five midway through the period, a series of runs – including the aforementioned 14-2 one that made it 27-20 in favor of the home squad with 6:01 left until the break – helped the Crimson and White gain a stranglehold on the score before running away with it for a time.
 
Taking a 12-point lead into the second, the Valiants continued to keep their feet on the gas. A 13-0 run from 14:33 to 10:46 gave Manhattanville that game-high 26-point advantage. Cobbs kicked it off by grabbing a defensive board and running the distance of the court for the fastbreak layup, follwed by another layin 00:17 later at 14:15 to make it 54-37. Sophomore Jake Dunn (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) then drew a foul while beyond the arc and proceeded to make two of three from the line.
 
Sophomore Chris Maestre (Bronx, N.Y./Mount Saint Michael Academy) saw some strong minutes on the night and entered the game during Dunn's free throws. Following another failed Golden Eagle possession, Maestre was able to rebound the ball, run up to the three-point line of the Valiants and drill a three. Cobbs once again followed with a layup in transition and, after a few missed attempts by both squads, the run was completed by junior Welsey Kra as he fought hard on the offensive glass to sink a second-chance layup and make it 63-37 with 10:46 left. St. Joe's clawed back a bit for the remainder of the contest, but the Valiants would hold on for the win.
 
Highlights:

• Rookie Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) had yet another efficient performance. The freshman guard saw 24 minutes off the bench and finished with seven points, six boards, two steals, one block and a game-high-tying five helpers.
• First year forward Jackson Leech (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) played just seven minutes off the bench, but did much with that time. He finished with seven points on 3-of-3 from the floor, including one three.
• Another freshman forward, Khari Taylor (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond), had a strong night with six points, six boards and an assist in the start.
• Dunn and classmate Petey Galgano (New Rochelle, N.Y./Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Mass.)) each finished with five points and five rebounds, while Dunn added two assists and Galgano chipped in with a steal and a helper.

Manhattanville returns to action this Thursday night, Jan. 30, in the second half of another home Skyline doubleheader. The Valiants are scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. tip against the College at Old Westbury. They lead the Panthers 17-8 all-time, including a 92-78 victory over them last season.