MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The LaGrange College men's basketball team pulled off a tremendous upset over top-seeded Maryville College in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) semifinals on Friday evening in an 82-71 final from Cooper Athletic Center in Maryville, Tennessee.

THE BASICS
Score:                 #1 Maryville 71, #4 LaGrange 82
Records:            Panthers 16-11, 5-7 CCS | Scots 21-5, 12-0 CCS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Having not lost a single game to a CCS opponent this season, it seemed as if the Scots were right on track to continue that trend as they opened the contest with a 6-2 run. The Panthers quickly responded, however, battling back to take their first lead up 20-19 with 9:27 left in the opening half.
• LC battled step-for-step with Maryville, as the host Scots threatened to create separation on multiple occasions. They were unsuccessful as LaGrange trailed by just three at halftime down 41-38.
• What ensued in the second half was one of the most heroic performances by the Panthers in the Kendal Wallace era. The Red and Black recaptured the lead less than three minutes in, thanks to big time three-point shooting by sophomore Austen Colton (Sharpsburg, Ga.)
• After trading the lead a pair of times, LaGrange suddenly saw themselves up by as much as eight with 9:54 remaining in the contest, the finish line now in sight.
• The Panthers continued to net bucket upon bucket as the Scots desperately tried to fight their way back into competitive position, down by 10 with two minutes remaining.
• In a last ditch effort, Maryville attempted to foul their way back into the game, but ultimately could stop the mighty Panthers who would prevail over their longtime rival to punch their ticket to the CCS Tournament championship game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Colton led LC with 20 points on the evening, as he went 4-9 from behind the arc.
• Senior guard Micah McAllister (Newnan, Ga.) netted 16 points for the Panthers, with his 8-10 showing from the free throw line proving to be a deciding factor in the major win.
• Junior guard Devin Dowell (LaGrange, Ga.) enjoyed a 16-point game as well as he helped lift his squad to the conference title game.
• Maryville junior forward Jackson Garner (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored 19 for the Scots in the losing effort.

UP NEXT

• LaGrange is back on the court on Saturday when they play Belhaven University in the CCS Championship Final. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).