The LC Men's Basketball Team improved to 5-2 on the year on Wednesday night with a strong win on the road against Birmingham-Southern, 88-84. The victory extends the Panthers' winning streak to three games, their longest of the season.
This is not the first time these two teams have met, with LaGrange winning 82-71 on November 18 in Mariotti Gymnasium, a game that was a part of the LC-hosted Wingate by Wyndham Classic. That game featured eight ties and 12 lead changes in a tough contest, with LC opening a late lead to hold on. This game was no different.
The first half was back-and-forth, with no team holding a lead of greater than six. Bershard Edwards hit a jumper at the buzzer to cut the BSC lead to one, 42-41, entering the break. Edwards led the Panthers with 12 points at the half.
The second began much the same. Midway through the second half, LC only held a three-point lead. This lead didn't get smaller, as solid Panther shooting and offensive execution kept LC in front. With 2:43 left, Edwards made another jumper to extend LaGrange's lead to 11, 83-72.
From here, the Panthers held on. BSC cut the lead to 85-84 with just 19 seconds remaining, but Edwards and Kyle Smith free throws helped solidify the Panther lead. When the buzzer sounded, LC had won another close one, their third win with a margin of five points or less.
Edwards once again led LC, dropping 30 points, going 3-6 from three, and adding five free throws. Camerin Lyons added 14 points, with most of his damage coming from the free throw line, going 6-7.
The bench also played a strong part in the win, with Cooper Dolhancyk adding nine points and Isaiah Pettigrew dropping eight points and five rebounds. Gabe Cofield led the team with seven rebounds to go along with seven points. Lyons and Zac Hill led the team with four assists each, with Hill also scoring eight.
The Panthers will look for their fourth win in a row on December 7at home against Emory on Faculty Appreciation Night, and then head into the winter break looking for more.
Story by Eli Rogers
