BROOKLYN, NY – A Pratt 16-0 run spanning both halves erased an early 10-point deficit, but Albany College of Pharmacy and Health sciences defeated Pratt Institute, 63-56 in both teams' Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball opener Saturday at the Pratt ARC.

A Ryan McVaigh jumper sent Panthers out to a 12-2 lead at the 14:27 mark of the first half.  Pratt's Ari Grant and Tytus Millkan each tallied eight points in the first as the Cannoneers cut into what was a 12-point deficit late in the period with six straight to close out the frame, capped with an Andrew Yaglenski jumper with 37 seconds remaining that cut the margin to 35-29 at the break.

The Cannoneers momentum carried over to the second half in a big way, as Pratt scored 10 straight points out to open the frame in taking, turning a 12-point disadvantage into a six point lead. Three-pointers by Yaglenski and Grant bookended the string of 10 consecutive second half points that swung a 35-23 disadvantage into a 39-25 lead, capping a game-changing 16-0 run.

A jumper from ACPHS' Michael Beyer knotted the contest at 43-43, and Emmanuel Okafor's hook shot gave the Panthers its first lead of the half at 47-45 with 11:00 to play. Another Yaglenski three-pointer reclaimed Pratt's lead, 53-51 with 7:03 to play, but Alex Johnson's layup gave ACPHS the lead at 57-56 at the 4:19 mark, a lead the Panthers held the remainder of the way. ACPHS held Pratt without a field goal for the final six minutes in fending off the Cannoneers, winning 63-56 in its season opener.

After scoring 15 in the first half, McVaigh was held without a field goal for the first 17:57 of the second half and scored only four points after break, still leading all scorers with 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds. 

At 1-0 (1-0 HVIAC), ACPHS returns to play on Sunday, November 9 at home against Fisher College at 3pm.