The men’s basketball team defeated the Huntingdon, 62-41 at Mariotti Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Panthers improve to 16-8; 4-2 in GSAC play while the Hawks fall to 3-21 and 0-6 in the conference.
“Our seniors have been through ups and downs with me during the last four years and its just exciting to see them have a season like this,” said Panthers Head Coach Warren Haynes. “They have been thrown to the fire so to speak and they have responded. I am proud of this group of seniors who have stuck with it.”
The Panthers would celebrate the five seniors on senior night, and would get a Valentine’s day gift, bringing back a healthy Robby Lawrence as he put up 14 to lead all scorers. His 1,147 points ranks him atop of the scorers during the NCAA era. His 135 career steals now put him one away from third place on the all-time list.
“Robby is getting back to the point of recovery and now its time for him to push through,” said Haynes. “He did a great job tonight of finding ways to get involved and play his game.”
“I don’t really care much about any stats or records as much as I’ve enjoyed my four years with my teammates,” said Lawrence. “We are a family and we stuck through the hard times to get to this point and it’s a wonderful feeling. Nobody cares who gets the most points, just win together as a team.”
The Panthers, who won their 16th game, is the most since the 1992-93 season, which they finished 21-11. It was also their first sweep over the Hawks in 28 years.
Demetris Render was also recognized for scoring his 1,000th point just four minutes into the contest, making him the 20th member and the second this year to accomplish that feat. To be fitting, he hit a free throw to eclipse the mark. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“I am proud of the accomplishment, but we have more to prove and accomplish as a team,” said Render. “Carver Bible is next and we want to remain focused for that going into the GSAC Tournament.”
Render has an uncanny ablility to get to the line, and he has numbers to prove it. As a junior, he now sits fourth place all-time in free throws made, passing Bob Eble with 438 made. He also remains fifth in free throws made with 454.
“I’ve always been the underdog playing the post position,” said Render, who stands only 6-3. “I just use that as fuel for me to play more aggressive so that I can get to the line. From there I turn to a more focused state when I get to the line.”
The Panthers held the Hawks to 18 percent shooting from the floor in the first half and 31 percent for the game. They were also limited to 20 percent for the game from beyond the arc.
The Panthers were behind early 11-10 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Panthers got in gear and went on a 17-2 run to grab a lead that they would not relinquish, leading 27-15 at the half.
The Panthers would continue to control their lead as they would be up by as much as 21 in the second half, which would be the final margin of victory for the Panthers.
Antoine Maddox finished with 12 points while Ben Podbielski had six points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Leon Williams had 10 points and seven rebounds in 16 just 16 minutes of action.
This senior class has now 46 wins, swept Huntingdon and defeated them on the road for the first time in nearly 30 years, got off to their best start since 1971-72 (3-0), enjoyed their longest winning streak since 1992-93 (6) and put up more wins (16) than the last two years combined and the most since 1992-93 (21-11).
“These guys deserve to be looked back upon as one of the great teams in the 50-year history of the program,” said Haynes. “I am so proud of them for what they have accomplished.”
“It’s been a great journey for me and the rest of the seniors,” said Lawrence. “We have been through some tough years, but this feels great and makes it all worth it. I have grown into a man and have had the privilege to say I played collegiate basketball. What a feeling.”
The Panthers will play in their final game of the regular season against Carver Bible on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. LaGrange defeated them, 101-79 in the second game of the season on Nov. 19.