PURCHASE, N.Y. – With the game tied and time winding down, senior JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) crossed over his defender at the top of the arc and found freshman Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) in the corner. The rookie guard nailed a three-pointer with 00:15 on the clock to put the Valiants up 53-50 over Mount Saint Mary College. The Crimson and White eventually held on for the three-point Skyline Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8, at Kennedy Gymnasium.
 
In a defensive battle where both squads shot below 40.0 percent from the floor, it was the Valiants (13-8, 8-4 Skyline) who came out on top against the Knights (6-15, 4-8 Skyline). Only a combined three players scored in double figures on the day, led by junior Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) and freshman Khari Taylor (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond). Each scored 13 as Taylor's performance tied his collegiate-high, while also leading all players with nine rebounds.
 
After building up a six-point lead following the first half of play, Manhattanville continued its run with a 10-0 streak to take a 12-point 36-24 lead with 18:04 remaining in the second half. Cobbs began with a pair of jumpers in the final minute of the first and sophomore Petey Galgano (New Rochelle, N.Y./Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Mass.)) started off the second with a layup, followed by a pair of buckets underneath by Taylor.
 
Following a majority of the half where the two teams went back and forth, it was at the 2:42 mark when the Knights comeback surged. A 5-0 run tied it up at 50-50 with 1:19 remaining before the Valiants eventually ran the game-winning play with time winding down to seal the win. Manhattanville is now in second place in the north division with four games remaining in the regular season.
 
The Crimson and White return to action on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, in King's Point, N.Y., for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The Valiants topped the Mariners earlier this year, 66-58 at Kennedy on Jan. 11, behind strong performances by Cobbs and Granda.