Panthers close strong, cage Petrels 74-63

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The men’s basketball team wrapped up its first conference double-header of the season today, defeating the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels, 74-63.  The win brings the Panthers’ record to 7-4, the Petrels fall to 9-3.

Both teams came out cold, with neither shooting above 45-percent from the field.  The Panthers got down 12-2 before they really tuned in on the offensive end.  A 9-0 run half way through the period got the Panthers back to within one and they closed the half strong, going into the break up five, 30-25.

The game continued at a break-neck pace but nobody was able to build a significant lead.  The score was tied at 57 with 4:22 remaining, the Panthers went on a 17-6 run closing the door on the Petrels.  Nathan West hit a critical three and four foul shots to help seal the win in the closing minutes.

Nathan West paced the Panthers with 17 points and 7 rebounds.  Roger Williams and Mark Messenger also scored in double-figures with 14 and 13 points respectively, and Williams posted a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds.  OU's Alex Richey led all scorers with 22.

BSC shot 47-percent from the floor, going 27-of-57.  From three the Panthers were 33-percent (7-of-21), and they went 6-of-12 from the foul line.  For their part, Oglethorpe shot 40-percent from the floor, 30-percent from three, and 25-percent from the line.

The Panthers will be on the road this weekend.  They travel to Greencastle, Indiana, on Friday to take on DePauw University at 5:00 p.m. and then to Danville, Kentucky, for a 1:00 p.m. game at Centre College.