Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
Photo Courtesy of Thomas Kennedy ('21)
LAGRANGE, Ga. - The Brevard College Tornados Men's Basketball team (4-5, 1-2 USAS) suffered a tightly-contested overtime setback by a final score of 80-73 to the LaGrange Panthers (5-3, 2-1 USAS) on Sunday afternoon in LaGrange, Ga.
Four-straight free throws by Qadhafi Turner and Levi Lamb followed by a key defensive stop on LaGrange's final possession sent the contest into overtime.
Despite Brevard's valiant comeback effort, LaGrange would pull away in the overtime period, outscoring the Tornados by a 13-6 margin. LaGrange jumped out to a quick 76-69 lead in the overtime stanza, but a Noah Lea layup and a Lamb jumper cut the advantage to 76-73. However, the Panthers would convert four-straight free throws to down Brevard.
The Panthers were propelled to victory thanks to a 41-30 rebounding advantage, including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Brevard was led by three double-digit scorers in the contest. Lamb tallied 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds in the process.
Turner added 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, which included a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Sophomore guard Demari Hopper also reaches double-digit scoring totals, recording 10 points and three rebounds.
The Panthers were bolstered by four double-digit scoring outputs, as Jamison McCray (16 points), Lincoln Anderson (16 points), Julian Cameron (11 points) and Travis Thompson (10 points) reached double figures in the contest.
Jalen McCallum (eight rebounds), McCray ( seven rebounds), and Cameron (six rebounds) anchored the LaGrange rebounding advantage.
The Tornados fell despite outshooting the Panthers (46.7%). LaGrange was very opportunistic, holding a 17-2 second-chance point advantage and a 28-21 points-off-turnovers advantage.
Sunday afternoon's contest featured nine total lead changes and four ties.
Brevard trailed by as much as nine points (19-10) in the first half before storming back to cut LaGrange's lead to just one point at the break.
The two sides would battle closely through the first seven minutes of the second half with neither side gaining much separation. However, LaGrange would extend its slim lead to a game-high 12 points (64-52) with 6:28 remaining in the contest.
Brevard would not be deterred by this margin. Trailing 67-56 with just 3:47 left in regulation, the Tornados would go on a game-high 11-0 scoring run capped off by Turner's and Lamb's free throws to tie the ballgame at 67-67.
With just 6.7 remaining in regulation, the Panthers had one last chance to pull away with a victory. However McCray had to take a contested short jumper, and Lamb's rebound sent the game into overtime.
Free throws told the story of the overtime stanza. The LaGrange Panthers hit 11 free throws total in overtime to close out the contest with a victory.
Brevard will now gear up for its second exhibition contest of the season as the Tornados travel to Boiling Springs, N.C. to face NCAA DI opponent Gardner Webb next Wednesday, December 19 at 4:30 p.m.
To follow along with all the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, please follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.
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