Chicago, Ill - Nick Neal (Detroit, MI) scored 22 points and led a balance scoring attack for the Panthers, but a late rally by the nationally ranked host Cougars ended the upset bid by Purdue University North Central on Tuesday evening. #21 Saint Xavier University knocked down big free throws in the end to capture the 80-68 victory.
The Panthers started off slow before they rallied and trailed 30-34 at the break. Down by 10 points at two different points in the first half, the Panther defense stiffened and chipped away at the Cougar lead. Two free throws by freshman forward David Kelly (Indianapolis, IN) with 2:09 left in the first half cut the deficit to two, before a Cougar basket by Zach Opheim ended the Panther run. The Panthers shot 54.5 percent from the field in the first half while holding the Cougars to shooting just 46.7 percent.
The scoring through the beginning of the second half was back and forth until a Kyle Sanders (Knox, In) turnaround jumper gave the Panthers their first lead of the evening, 42-41 with 13:21 remaining in the game. After trading baskets and being tied at 49-49 with 10:08 to play, the Cougars came away with points on their following five possessions as part of a 12-1 run and took the lead for good with 5:35 left in the game, leading 61-50. The resilient Panthers would regroup and make one last run.
Immediately following a Panther steal and a missed transition scoring opportunity by the Panthers to cut the deficit to only four points, the Cougars' Domonique Harvey hit a runner in the lane with 3:58 to play in the game ending a 5-0 run by the Panthers and extended the Cougar lead to 63-55. Saint Xavier University would hit 11 free throws in the final 2:00 to hold on and grab the win.
The Panthers had four different players register double digits in scoring. Neal had 22 points, junior guard Alphonse Futch (Indianapolis, IN) dropped in 17, sophomore forward Kyle Sanders (Knox, IN) contributed 12, and freshman forward David Kelly (Indianapolis, IN) added 12.
Neal led the team in assists with five, while Futch was the Panthers' leading rebounder with five.
The Panthers will remain on the road as they travel to the University of Saint Francis (10-7, 0-1) in Joliet, Illinois on Saturday, January 21 to take on the Fighting Saints at 7:00pm CST.
