ATLANTA—The LC Men's Basketball Team fell on day 2 of the Jack Berkshire Classic to Ogelthorpe University 92-88. The Panthers dropped to 8-5 on the season, wrapping up non-conference play by finishing 1-1 in the Classic after defeating Sewanee on December 29.
LaGrange jumped out early, with a Brodie Scott layup eight minutes in putting the Panthers up 20-8. A layup by Parker Gonzalez with 7:56 remaining in the half put the Panthers up by 16, 29-13.
But LC squandered the lead, and by halftime, the Stormy Petrels had cut the margin to two, 35-33.
The second half didn't go the Panthers' way. Ogelthorpe took the lead early in the second and didn't let go. Bershard Edwards' and-one with 8:33 left cut the lead to two but LC didn't get any closer. Scott hit a late three-pointer to cut the lead to four, and that's where it stayed at the buzzer.
Camerin Lyons led the Panthers with 22 points on nine-of-12 shooting, as well as leading the team with two steals. Edwards and Zac Hill also pushed the Panthers, with Hill having 14 points and two steals and Edwards having 13 points on 12 field goal attempts, while tying a team-high of four rebounds and team-high eight assists. Other notables were Scott, Gabe Cofield and Kyle Smith, who combined for 32 points, with Smith scoring 11 in the first half. Scott also had four rebounds as well, tying the team high.
The Panthers will start conference play on the road Friday at Maryville, as LC will look to win the first conference title of the new Collegiate Conference of the South.
