Methodist pulls away in second half to down Panthers
Dec. 2, 2007

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Methodist University pulled away in the second half for an 88-78 win over LaGrange College on Sunday. It was the fourth straight loss for the Panthers, now 1-6. The Monarchs improved to 5-1.

LaGrange's Demetris Render led all scorers with 30 points. The senior was 11-for-15 from the field and had a team-high seven rebounds. Caleb Smallwood had 19 points off the bench for the Panthers, while Joe Cromwell had 10.

Methodist had balanced scoring, with five players in double figures. LeuMichael Smith led the Monarchs with 19 points. Billy McDade had a double-double of 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Monarchs jumped out to a 7-1 lead at the outset of the first half. Smith's layup upped Methodist's lead to 20-10 with 12 minutes left in the half. The Panthers responded with a 16-6 run over the next five minutes.

Cromwell tied the game at 26 for LaGrange with a jumper to finish the run. The Panthers fell behind 39-34 late in the half. Render cut the deficit to one by halftime, 39-38, with a pair of free throws and a basket.

Stephen Spivey put the Panthers up 40-39 in the opening minute of the second half. Methodist answered with a 16-4 spurt over a four-minute span to take the lead for good. Smith scored the final six points of the run for the Monarchs, including a dunk for a 55-44 lead.

LaGrange chipped away at Methodist's lead. The Panthers got within two points twice, the last time on a layup by Render that made it 66-64 with 7:11 remaining in the game. The Monarchs went on a 13-2 run to make it 79-66 and putting the game out of reach for the Panthers.

Methodist shot 59.6 percent from the field in the game, including 72 percent in the second half. LaGrange shot an even 50 percent from the field in the game. The Panthers shot 58.3 percent from the field in the first half.

The Panthers host Atlanta Christian College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.