BREVARD, N.C. – Alex Bonner finished with a game-high 26 points, knocking down 10-of-15 field goals and two 3-pointers, to lead LaGrange to an 85-76 come-from-behind victory over Brevard in men's basketball action on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Gym.
Bonner was joined in double figures by the trio of Jack McCormack (14 points), Duncan Parker (12) and Travis Thompson (11) as the Panthers finished 30-of-57 (52.6%) from the floor in the game. Bonner came through with 14 points in the second half, leading the way for a LaGrange (4-4) offense that finished 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the field and 12-of-15 (80%) from the free throw line.
Freshman Divese Carson, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, was one of six Brevard (1-7) scorers to top double figures. He was joined by Cannon Lamb (15), Stevie Williams (12), JaMarquis Johnson (11) and Jonas Bradshaw (11).
Carson topped a Tornado offense that ended the game by hitting 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the floor and 9-of-18 (50%) at the 3-point line. Both Cannon Lamb and Williams finished with five field goals each, while the trio of Lamb, Johnson and Bradshaw converted three 3-pointers apiece.
Bradshaw, who logged 19 minutes in the contest, was also active on defense with two steals and two rebounds. Williams and Cannon Lamb shared the team high in assists, handing out four each, while teammate Levi Lamb climbed the glass for six rebounds (four defensive).
The Tornados went on an 8-2 run at the beginning of the second half, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Cannon Lamb. Brevard took their first double-digit lead of the second frame 53-42 at the 16:33 mark.
McCormack provided a spark off the bench for the Panthers, hitting his first of four 3-pointers, as the Panthers pulled within seven. Brevard took advantage of two 3-pointers from Bradshaw and Johnson to maintain a 66-54 lead with 11:32 remaining.
The Panthers' tough defense, coupled with eight points from McCormack, allowed them to claw their way back into the game over the next two minutes as they moved within one, following an 11-0 run. Cannon Lamb answered to keep Brevard in front, but it was a timely 3-pointer by Shannon Holt that brought the contest to a 68-all deadlock.
Bonner came through with a clutch jumper at the 5:42 mark, adding a pair of free throws less than 30 seconds later, as LaGrange grabbed its first lead since the 17:38 mark of the first half. Points from Lamb and Williams were not enough to help Brevard down the stretch as LaGrange scored 15 of the final 21 points for the victory.
Carson led seven Tornados in scoring in the opening frame, scoring 12 by virtue of 4-for-6 shooting from the floor and a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, as Brevard finished 15-of-31 (48.4%) from the field and 8-for-11 (72.7%) from 3-point range.
Joining Carson in scoring for Brevard was the trio of Bradshaw (eight), Johnson (eight) and Cannon Lamb (seven), who were all 2-for-2 from 3-point range.
Cannon Lamb knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the opening stages, bringing the game to an eight-all tie, before Johnson converted a trey on a pass from Cannon Lamb to provide the Tornados with a three-point edge. That 3-pointer kick started a 14-6 run for Brevard, which included a pair of long distance conversions by Carson as the Tornados established a 22-14 lead.
The Panthers countered with a 6-2 run, capped off by a layup from Parker, as they trimmed the lead to four with just over 10 minutes remaining. LaGrange continued to make a push for the lead and behind a series of buckets by Bonner and Holt pulled within two, 27-25.
Brevard found its previous form and behind a 3-pointer from Bradshaw along with five points from Carson, extending the margin to five, 41-36, with 1:38 left. Two free throws from Williams along with a layup by Bergen provided the Tornados with a five-point advantage as the two teams headed into the intermission.
The Tornados return to action following the Christmas holidays when they host Berea on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 in Boshamer Gym.