The LC Men's Basketball team secured a win Friday night against Birmingham-Southern, 82-71, in game one of four of the Wingate by Wyndham Classic hosted by LaGrange College. The victory improves the Panthers' record to 2-1 and gives them back-to-back wins for the first time in the 2022-23 season.
The game started very back and forth and stayed that way throughout the half, as no team held a lead greater than five. The Panthers held a two-point edge going into the break.
Zac Hill and Bershard Edwards fed the Panther offense, as they combined for 23 points in the first half, with Hill scoring the first five points of the game.
The second half stayed much the same, as the game was gridlocked at 57 heading into the under-eight-minute media timeout, but the Panthers exploded for 25 points in the last 7:55 of the game. Brodie Scott helped fuel a 13-6 run with under five minutes to expand the Panther lead to seven with key rebounds, steals and some incredible finishes around the rim, scoring six of his eight points on the night in that stretch.
Coach Wallace pointed to Scott's success when asked about how the team pulled out the win. "[He] came through in big minutes. He came up with big rebounds, he ran the floor well, he scored under the basket. [I am] very impressed with him."
The run proved to be key as BSC had no answer for LaGrange. With good free-throw shooting to close out the game, the Panthers pulled the lead to 11, and it stayed there at the horn.
Three upperclassmen helped lead the way for LC: Hill, Edwards and Camerin Lyons, who combined to score 64 points, with Edwards grabbing 24 points and Hill and Lyons each having 20.
"It always good to see the guys who have put in the most work get the reward," said Coach Wallace when asked about Edwards and Hill and their contributions on the floor as leaders. "Very excited for both of them to come out and play well."
Hill also secured his first double-double of the year, snagging 12 rebounds and leading the Panthers. Edwards led LC with six assists.
The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak to three in the final game of the Wingate by Wyndham Classic Saturday against Sewanee, who defeated Huntingdon College 100-63 in the nightcap of day one.
Story by Eli Rogers
