GALLATIN, Tenn. (December 30, 2017) - Despite outscoring Lagrange 42-35 in the second half, the FDU men's basketball team fell 80-70 Saturday.

The Panthers began the contest with a 12-4 run, before junior Anthony Mitchell knocked down a trey. Lagrange shot to the tune of 60% (18-of-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes including 9-of-10 to begin the game.

The lead swelled to 20, but freshman Oliver Ortman scored from behind the arc which kick-started a 7-0 spurt that also included baskets from juniors Edwin Lopez and Eric Ray. That cut the gap to 13, but the Panthers scored the final four to head into the half with a 45-28 edge.

Eight of the first markers went to FDU beginning the second half, trimming the lead to 11 with 16:38 left in the period. Lagrange would push the lead up 22 with just under six minutes to play, but 19-6 FDU run over the next five minutes brought the gap to single-digits with 20 seconds left. A lone free throw with 18 seconds left by the Panthers established the 10 point margin.

Ray had 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Ortman added 12 points, five boards and three assists. Junior Darren Davy and Mitchell also were in double figures, chipping in 15 and 11 respectively.

FDU begins conference play with a 6 p.m. tilt on Wednesday against Wilkes at the Ferguson Recreation Center.