Panthers overtake Piedmont to stop four-game losing streak
Jan. 26, 2008

LaGrange College overtook Piedmont College 86-81 on Saturday in a GSAC game at Mariotti Gym. The win stopped a four-game losing streak for the Panthers, now 5-14 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Lions dropped to 10-8 overall and 1-1 in the GSAC after their fifth straight loss to the Panthers.

Nic Whitfield sparked LaGrange's second-half comeback with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds, all coming in the half. Demetris Render, despite playing with four fouls, led the Panthers with 23 points. Joe Cromwell had 19 points and Caleb Smallwood added 11.

Jake Baldwin, the leading scorer in the nation in the NCAA, led Piedmont with a game-high 28 points before fouling out with three minutes left in the game. Samuel Coppage had 14 points behind Baldwin.

The Panthers had to overcome 19 turnovers in the game. The Panthers out-rebounded the Lions 46-24. The Panthers shot 52.6 from the floor and held a 23-10 advantage at the free throw line.

The Panthers did not lead in the game until there was 7:56 remaining. Cromwell scored off a layup to put the Panthers up 69-68. From there, the lead changed hands five times and the game was tied three times.

Trailing 78-75 after a 3-pointer from Baldwin with 4:55 left, the Panthers bounced back behind Whitfield and Smallwood. Whitfield scored inside to get the Panthers within one, 78-77. After a free throw by the Lions' Michael Rubio made it 79-77, Smallwood tied the game for the last time with a pair of free throws.

Whitfield put the Panthers ahead to stay with 2:25 left. He put back his own missed shot for an 81-79 lead. The Panthers scored their final five points from the free throw line, the last two by Smallwood for the 86-81 final margin with six seconds left.

In the first half, Piedmont jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the game's first six minutes. The Panthers cut the deficit to three, 30-27, when Smallwood converted a three-point play. The Lions held on the lead and took a 44-40 lead into halftime.

The Panthers go on the road Tuesday at Birmingham Southern and Friday at Pensacola Christian in a non-conference game. The Panthers won the first meeting with Pensacola Christian 81-71 on Jan. 8 at Mariotti Gym.