Methodist holds off Panthers' second-half rally
Jan. 6, 2008

Methodist University built a double-digit second half lead and held on for a 77-72 win over LaGrange College on Sunday afternoon at Mariotti Gym. It was the second win of the year for the Monarchs (7-5) over the Panthers (3-10). Methodist won the first meeting 88-78 on Dec. 2 at Fayetteville, N.C.

LaGrange got a game-high 28 points from senior Demetris Render. Render had 20 points in the first half, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. He came into the game with one 3-pointer this season and only six in his career. Render finished the game 11-of-16 from the field.

Freshman Nic Whitfield followed Render with 18 points. He had 16 of his points in the second half. Joe Cromwell added 14 points for the Panthers.

Methodist shot nearly 70 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game at 60 percent. LeuMichael Smith led the Monarchs with 16 points. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor in the game. Travis Winstead added 15 points and Ab Lehmann 10 for the Monarchs.

The Panthers stayed close with the Monarchs in the first half. Render tied the game at 22 with a 3-pointer with 7:18 left in the half. He scored off an assist from Ryan Brown to put the Panthers up 24-22. It would be the last time the Panthers led in the game.

Render scored the Panthers' last eight points of the half. He hit his final 3-pointer with six seconds left to tie the game at 34. Lehmann hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Methodist a 37-34 lead.

In the second half, Methodist started to build on its lead. Winstead's 3-pointer gave the Monarchs a 58-46 lead with 10:53 remaining. Smith scored off a Panther turnover to give the Monarchs their biggest lead, 69-55, with less than six minutes remaining.

Whitfield helped get the Panthers back into the game. He scored 10 of his points in the last five minutes. The Panthers got within six points on two occasions down the stretch. Render's tip-in with three seconds left finished the scoring in the game.

The Panthers host Pensacola Christian on Tuesday at 7 p.m.