Box Score The Maryville College men's basketball team exploded for a 51-point second half to cruise to an 84-60 thrashing of USA South foe LaGrange College on Saturday evening in MC's Boydson Baird Gymnasium.
Following a first half where the Panthers out shot the Scots 35% to 31% from the floor, Maryville carried a small 33-32 advantage into the halftime.
Coach Lambert's defense clamped down in the second half allowing LaGrange only a 9-for-35 (26%) success rate from the floor while the Scots blistered the nets for a 20-for-31 (65%) effort from the floor.
Maryville senior Spencer Shoffner posted a double-double effort with 29 points while bringing down a game-high 10 rebounds. Shoffner was 6-for-11 from beyond the arc and finished his complete game with four steals and a pair of assists. He was one of four Fighting Scots to finish with double digits in scoring. Logan Brewer threw down a trio of dunks en route to an 18 point, seven-rebound performance in the post. Guards Jay Bowyer and Joshua Brooks added 12 and 11 points respectively while Dante Hoppa and Emier Bowman were strong on the boards with a combined 15 boards off the glass.
"I was worried about LaGrange on the boards, but our guys stepped up today on the glass," stated MC head coach Randy Lambert. The Scots out rebounded their USA South rival 51-39 on the evening with 35 key defensive boards. "I was very happy with our bench and their effort and energy throughout the entire game."
LaGrange (10-3, 2-1 USA South) was paced by Alex Bonner's 16 point effort on 6-of-8 shooting. Drew Vanderbrook added 14 points while bringing down eight rebounds. Mark Wagner added 10 points while Mike White led the Panthers on the boards with nine rebounds.
Maryville (10-3, 201 USA South) will play their next three games on the road. They will prepare to play at Johnson University next Tuesday before traveling to North Carolina Wesleyan and William Peace University within the USA South next weekend.
