ATLANTA, Ga. - LaGrange turned back Birmingham-Southern 100-89 at the Emory Holiday Classic on Wednesday. The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Panthers (5-7), while avenging a 98-71 loss at Birmingham-Southern (5-7) on Dec. 12. LC faces Wisconsin-Whitewater on Thursday at 2 p.m. in its final tournament game.
The Panthers placed all five starters in double figures for the second time this season, with three setting career highs in points. Bershard Edwards led the Panthers with 26 points, Gabe Cofield had 21, and Camerin Lyons 20. It was the first time LC had three players score 20 or more points in a game since a 103-97 overtime win at Berea on Feb. 1, 2020 (Lincoln Anderson 25, Henry Blair 25, Julian Cameron 20).
Kyle Brown recorded his fourth double-double of the season. Brown had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Zac Hill also had 13 points and four blocks. BSC's Christian Stewart had game highs of 32 points and 17 rebounds.
First Half
Cofield scored 20 of his points in the half, making 6-of-7 3-pointers. The sophomore hit his first three 3-pointers to help LC take an early 18-10 lead. BSC came back to take a 30-27 lead. Cofield tied the game at 30 with a trey. Edwards' jumper from just inside the free throw line put LC ahead to stay 32-31. Hill's put back of his own missed shot pushed the Panthers' lead to 10, 45-35. Cofield closed out his big half with his sixth 3-pointer to make it 50-39 as the Panthers took a 54-43 lead at halftime.
Second Half
The Panthers continued to build their lead in the second half. Edwards had 16 of his points in the half. The senior led a 17-4 run over a three-minute span to help give the Panthers an insurmountable lead. He had 10 points, two assists, and a steal during the run as the Panthers built a 23-point lead. LC would match it biggest lead on four occasions, the last on Hill's layup off an assist from Brown to make 94-71. BSC whittled away at the Panthers' lead, getting within nine, 94-85, on Stewart's layup. The Panthers would hold on, making 6-of-7 at the free throw line to clinch the win.
Notes
The Panthers hit the century mark for the second time this season, the first time in a 108-101 season-opening win against Pensacola Christian... The Panthers had all five starters in double figures for the second time this season, the first also against Pensacola Christian... Led by Hill, the Panthers had a season-high seven blocks... The Panthers forced 18 Birmingham-Southern turnovers while committing only nine themselves, finishing the game with a 21-9 advantage off turnovers...
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