LaGrange rallied in regulation to force overtime, then went on to a 94-87 win over Piedmont on Wednesday at Mariotti Gymnasium. The win ended an eight-game losing streak for the Panthers, now 3-19 overall and 1-3 in the GSAC.
Marcus Vaughn led the Panthers with a career-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Denzel Robinson added 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Panthers finished with six players in double figures. Nic Whitfield and Jerod Howard had 11 points each, while Britt Gaylor and Stephen Spivey had 10 points each.
Josh Haymore led Piedmont with a game-high 31 points. Haymore was 8-for-14 from 3-point range. Will Skaggs had 14 points, Michael Ross 11 and Daniel Lampl 10.
The Panthers trailed 70-60 with 6:11 left in regulation. The Panthers held the Lions scoreless for five minutes, cutting the deficit to two, 70-68, after Vaughn hit a pair of free throws.
After Ross hit two free throws to put the Lions up 72-68, Vaughn made two more to cut it to 72-70 with 40 seconds left.
The Lions turned the ball over with eight seconds left. Whitfield missed a jumper but Vaughn was fouled getting the rebounds with 1.8 seconds left.
Vaughn made both free throws to tie the game. Skaggs' desperation heave from halfcourt was off the mark at the buzzer as the game went to overtime.
Tied at 77, Vaughn made one of two free throws to give the Panthers the lead for good. A jumper by Whitfield and two free throws by Howard pushed the Panthers' lead to 87-79 with a minute left.
The Panthers play at Huntingdon on Saturday in a GSAC game. Game time is 4 p.m. CST.
