Tough second half sinks Panthers, 79-63

Box Score

GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Birmingham-Southern (7-5) Panthers took the show on the road this weekend for their first SCAC-road trip of the season, falling to the Tigers of DePauw University, 79-63.  Roger Williams led the way for BSC, earning a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds on the night.

It took six minutes for the panthers to get their first lead, at 10-8, they quickly expanded that to a five-point lead on their next possession.  They held that lead between two and seven for much of the remainder of the half, but a closing surge and a last-second falling-jumper by the Tigers put DePauw up four, 33-29, going into the break.  The Panthers shot 52-percent from the floor in the frame.  Both teams were cold from three, but DePauw made more free-throws than ‘Southern took, providing a five-point cushion for the home team. 

The Tigers came out of the break with a new-found fire and opened up the game’s first double-digit lead at the 12:39 mark and things only got worse for the Panthers from there.  The Tigers improved their shooting percentage by 14 percentage points and increased their lead to 22 with 8:48 remaining in the game.  BSC did not score a point from 13:52 to 9:50 on the clock – a span of over four minutes.  The Panthers showed a lot of heart in the closing minutes, but they were unable to get the game back to single-digits.

#Roger Williams# led the Panthers offensively, with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double.  #Nathan West# also scored in double-figures with 11 points.  The Tigers were paced by Mike Moore with28 points and 7 rebounds rebounds.  As a team, the Panthers shot 47-percent from the floor, 33-percent from three-point range, and 62-percent from the foul line.  The Tigers went 51, 47, and 82-percent for the contest.

The Panthers’ trip continues on Sunday from Danville, Kentucky as BSC will take on Centre College.  Tipoff is scheduled for noon Central/1:00 p.m. local.