The Panthers (0-1) led at halftime 24-20, but the second half was all Birmingham-Southern. The host Panthers (1-0) went on a 14-0 run over a six-minute span to put the game away.

Trailing 53-39, the Panthers rallied to cut the lead in half. Sidney Divine's layup brought the Panthers within seven, 55-48 with 6:37 left. But the Panthers would not score until Joe Cromwell's basket with 40 seconds left in the game.

In the low-scoring first half, the Panthers trailed 20-19 with less than three minutes remaining. Divine scored off a layup and made one of two free throws sandwiched around a Cromwell basket for the 24-20 lead.

Cromwell led the Panthers with 14 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor. Divine was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and finished with 13 points. Dillon McLaughlin was the only other Panther in double figures with 10. Nic Whitfield had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Panthers.

The Panthers shot 45.5 percent in the game and hit 3-of-10 three-point attempts. The Panthers committed 30 turnovers in the game.

The Panthers will face Wabash on Friday and Webster on Saturday in the James Campbell Classic at Maryville College.