JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State pulled away in the second half for a 110-80 win over LaGrange on Monday night. The game was an exhibition game for the Panthers.
Gabe Cofield and Bershard Edwards led four Panthers in double figures with 15 points each. All of Cofield's points came on five 3-pointers. Kyle Smith had 13 points and Cooper Dolhancyk added 11.
The Panthers stayed with the Division I Gamecocks in the first half. Zach Hill hit 3-pointers on two straight possessions to put the Panthers up 30-26 with 5:58 left in the half. After JSU regained a 42-35 lead, the Panthers drew within two at halftime. Edwards hit a trey, then hit a jumper in the paint to make it 42-40.
Cofield opened the second half with a 3-pointer to give the Panthers their last lead, 43-42. The Gamecocks outscored LC 19-4 over the next five minutes to take the lead for good. Cofield's last trey of the game trimmed JSU's lead to 14, 78-64. But the Gamecocks used a 16-1 spurt to put the game out of reach.
The Panthers shot 44.4% in the game, making 14-of-32 3s. Edwards made 3-of-4 of his 3-point shots. He led LC with seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Cofield hit 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The Panthers host USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan in a non-counting conference game Wednesday. Game time is 12 p.m.
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