LaGrange College picked up its first win win of the 2010-11 season with a 74-66 upset of No. 23 Emory at Mariotti Gymnasium on Thursday. The Panthers (1-10) handed the Eagles (7-1) their first loss of the season.
Freshman Denzel Robinson scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Panthers. Robinson scored 16 of his points in the second half as the Panthers erased a 30-26 halftime deficit.
Senior Nic Whitfield followed Robinson with 19 points. Sophomore Marcus Vaughn had his second double-double of the season. Vaughn had 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Panthers shot a season-best 53.7 percent for the game. They shot 59.3 percent in the second half. The Panthers made 13-of-24 shots at the free throw line in the game.
The Panthers held Emory to 23.8 percent shooting from 3-point range. The Eagles came into the game shooting 46.2 percent from 3-point range. Alex Gullota came into the game No. 1 in Division III, making 59.6 of his 3s. He was 2-for-7 in the game shooting 3s.
Jake Davis led Emory with 17 points. Alex Greven added 16 points and Austin Claunch 15.
Robinson scored 13 of the Panthers' first 15 points of the second half. He completed a three-point play to tie the game at 41 four minutes into the second half.
The game was tied 10 times in the second half. Whitfield tied the game for the last time at 62 with a jumper with 2:34 left.
Robinson blocked Claunch's shot at the other end as the Panthers retained possession. Whitfield came back with a layup to put the Panthers up 64-62.
The Panthers opened up a 70-62 lead with 41 seconds left. Blake Craft hit a 3-pointer, followed by two free throws by Vaughn and a free throw by Whitfield.
The Panthers sealed the win at the free throw line. Craft made a pair of free throws to make it 72-64. Robinson and Stephen Tuck each made a free throw for the 74-66 final.
In the first half, the Panthers led 16-9 seven minutes into the game. The Eagles came back with a 9-2 run to lead 30-26 at halftime.
The Panthers host Ferrum on Dec. 31.
