LaGrange fell in overtime to visiting Covenant 98-95 in a hard-fought USA South game at Mariotti Gym on Wednesday.

The loss left the Panthers 9-7 overall and 3-2 in the USA South. The Scots improved to 8-10 and 3-4.

Patrick Dugger led the Panthers with a double-double of 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. It was Dugger's fourth straight game finishing with a double-double.

Mark Wagner followed Dugger with 19 points. Dustin Baxter had 15, Denzel Robinson 13 and Braxton Ford 11.

The two teams combined to have 54 fouls in the game. The Panthers were 30-of-43 at the line in the game, while the Scots were 20-of-29.

The game was close throughout. The Scots enjoyed an eight point lead in the first half, while the Panthers had their biggest lead of seven points in the second half. The game was tied 12 times and the lead changed hands 10 more times.

The Panthers led 43-42 at halftime when Wagner sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer. They had trailed by eight, 29-21, with 8:25 left in the period.

The Panthers held the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Covenant retook the lead but the Panthers went up 73-66 as Robinson made 1-of-2 at the line with 6:30 left.

The Panthers still led 81-77 after a layup by Nick Mitchell and two more free throws by Robinson. The Scots answered with a pair of baskets to tie the game at 81 with 56 seconds left in regulation.

Robinson came up with a steal and was fouled with 18 seconds left and then sank the ensuing two free throws to put the Panthers up 83-81. But Ben Phelps' layup with 1.2 seconds left forced the overtime period.

In overtime, the Panthers took an 87-83 lead on free throws by Dugger and Jordan Johnson. The Scots reeled off seven straight points to go up 90-87.

The Panthers responded with two baskets by Dugger sandwiched around a putback by Baxter for a 93-90 lead. Once again, the Scots came back and led 94-93 with 20 seconds left.

Robinson drove the lane to put the Panthers up a final time, 95-94, with nine seconds left. Nate Frierson answered for the Scots with a layup at the other end for a 96-95 lead with just four seconds left.

The Panthers last possession ended in a turnover and the Scots sank a pair of free throws to clinch the 98-95 win.

The Panthers host William Peace on Saturday and N.C. Wesleyan on Sunday in USA South games.