Against Panola College Monday night, the Angelina College Roadrunners dressed just seven players – and two of those fouled out late in the second half.
The short-handed roster left the door open for the Ponies, who escaped Shands Gymnasium with an 82-77 win in Region XIV conference play.
The Ponies’ Devyn Wilson hit a three pointer with 1:47 to play in the game, giving Panola a 78-76 lead over the Roadrunners, and the Ponies held the ‘Runners to a single free throw over the games waning moments to take the win.
Gary Blackston returned from receiving stitches in his chin in the first half to lead the ‘Runners with 22 points. Corinthian Ramsey battled early foul trouble – he picked up his third foul early in the first half – to finish with 16 points. Robert Lewis scored 13, Jason Towery 11 and Quinton Bush 10 in the loss. Bush added 12 rebounds before fouling out.
Panola’s Tope Arikawe led the Ponies with 24 points; Marlon Taylor III added 21 and Wilson 16 in the win.
The Roadrunners battled back from early shooting woes and a 12-point deficit to tie the score at 47-47 on a Malcolm Evans bucket off a Ramsey feed. Blackston’s three pointer at the 4:17 mark gave the ‘Runners a six-point lead, but the Ponies kept chipping away until Wilson’s trey gave Panola its final lead.
The Roadrunners (11-5, 3-2) will travel to Paris College on Wednesday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.