Pensacola Christian avenges earlier loss to Panthers
Feb. 1, 2008

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Pensacola Christian College avenged an earlier loss to LaGrange College on Friday night at the Sports Center. The Eagles (8-11) used a big first half run to down the Panthers (5-16) 79-60. LaGrange had won 81-71 the first time the two teams met on Jan. 9.

LaGrange got a game-high 29 points from Demetris Render, who had 23 in the second half alone. Render hit 10-of-16 from the floor and all seven of his free throws. He also had a team-high eight rebounds. Ryan Vanderboegh led Pensacola with 16 points, while Joshua Hershberger added 15.

The two teams swapped baskets in the first 10 minutes of the game. Joe Cromwell's jumper put the Panthers up 13-12. But over the next six minutes, the Eagles went on a 24-4 run to take control of the game. Pensacola took a 40-25 lead at halftime.

The Panthers trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half. They chipped away at the lead, getting within 10 on two occasions but no closer. Render's basket with 5:49 left cut the Eagles' lead to 68-58 with 5:49 left. The Eagles ran off six straight points to open up a 16-point lead, 74-58, and the Panthers did not threaten again.

The Panthers shot only 24.2 percent in the first half. They shot over 46 percent in the second half to finish the game with a 33.9 percentage. The Panthers hit 15-of-18 free throws in the game.

The Panthers travel to Maryville College next Saturday for a GSAC game. Maryville won the first meeting 88-62 in LaGrange on Jan. 19.