BREVARD, N.C. - LaGrange wrapped up the regular season with an 81-71 USA South win over Brevard on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers' fifth straight win improved their record to 15-10 overall and 10-2 in the conference.
With the win, the Panthers earned a share of the West Division regular season championship with Covenant and Maryville. Covenant earned the division's top seed after defeating Maryville 73-52. The Scots received the second seed after tie breakers were applied and will host the third seeded Panthers on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the first round of the USA South Tournament.
Senior Kyle Brown once again led LC. Brown finished with a game-high double-double of 28 points and 14 rebounds. He was a perfect 12-of-12 at the free throw line after coming into the game shooting 46% for the season at the line. In his last five games, Brown is averaging 27.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Cooper Dolhancyk scored a career-high 18 points coming off the bench. Bershard Edwards had 13 points and Zac Hill had 11.
The Panthers never trailed in the game. They led 17-7 eight minutes into the game. The Tornados (8-15, 5-7 USA South) cut the Panthers' lead to 26-21. Brown's put back of a missed shot finished a 9-0 run for a 35-21 lead with 4:37 left in the half. The Panthers took a 40-27 lead into halftime.
The Panthers led 64-46 midway through the second half after Gabe Cofield's 3-pointer. Brevard fought back, cutting the Panthers' lead to four, 71-67, with 3:57 left. Dolhancyk re-entered the game after Hill fouled out. He made a layup, blocked a shot, then hit another layup as the Panthers built the lead back to 10, 77-67.
The Panthers are 8-0 all-time against Brevard. LC won 102-67 in Mariotti Gym on Jan. 30.
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