Birmingham-Southern downs Panthers
Jan. 29, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham-Southern downed LaGrange College 70-52 on Tuesday at Bill Battle Coliseum. It was the fifth loss in the last six games for the Panthers, now 5-15. The host Panthers upped their record to 12-6.

Joe Cromwell led LaGrange with a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Demetris Render had 12 points and Nic Whitfield 11. Roger Williams led Birmingham with a double-double of a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds.  

The Panthers were held to 38.5 percent shooting in the game. They made only one of their 12 3-point attempts. Birmingham shot 50 percent from the floor in the game, but hit only 8-of-20 free throws.

LaGrange fell behind by as many as 12 points in the first half. Trailing 28-16, the Panthers came back by behind Cromwell. He scored six of the next eight points for the Panthers to cut the deficit to 28-24. Cromwell got the Panthers within two at halftime, 30-28, with a jumper with 21 seconds left.

Render hit a pair of free throws to put the Panthers up 37-36 with 15:20 remaining in the game. Birmingham ran off 13 straight points over the next six minutes to take the lead for good. Whitfield ended the scoring drought for the Panthers with a layup off an assist from Landon Baize.

Baize got LaGrange within seven, 54-47, with four minutes left. Once again, the host Panthers answered with a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach. Render closed out the scoring for the Panthers with a three-point play with 45 seconds left.

The Panthers are on the road Friday at Pensacola Christian. The Panthers defeated the Eagles 81-71 on Jan. 8 at Mariotti Gym.