Panthers cannot overcome first half deficit in loss to Rust
Dec. 15, 2007

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – Rust College used a big first half and went on to a 93-77 win over LaGrange College on Saturday. The Panthers are now 2-8 overall.

Joe Cromwell led LaGrange with a game-high 24 points. Demetris Render had a double-double for the Panthers with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Caleb Smallwood had 16 points off the bench. Jarrel Holmes led Rust with 22 points and James Roberson added 19.

The host Bearcats raced out to a 52-31 halftime lead. The Panthers despite outscoring the Bearcats in the second half never got closer than the final 16-point margin. Rust shot 64 percent from the field in the second half and 58 percent for the game.

In the first half, the Panthers led briefly after the first two minutes of the game. Rust started pulling away midway through the first half. The Bearcats stretched a nine-point lead to 16 with seven straight points to go up 31-15. The 21-point halftime lead matched the largest lead of the half by the Bearcats.

Rust extended its lead to 27 at the outset of the second half. Holmes scored off a jumper to put the Bearcats up 63-36. The Panthers got within 16, 79-63, when Roger McDowell scored after Cromwell had a steal on the defensive end. The Bearcats ran off seven unanswered points from there to put the game out of reach.

The Panthers play at Rhodes College on Monday. They return home New Year's Day to host Hampden-Sydney.