Box Score Albany, NY – A late first half run was not enough for the Panthers on Tuesday night, as the fell to the Vikings of HVCC 110-74. HVCC improves to 3-0 with the win, while ACPHS drops their first of the season and moves to 1-1.

This one looked like it was going to be over early, as the Vikings were firing on all cylinders early in the first half. HVCC broke out to an 8-1 lead, with the Panthers missing their first five attempts and not hitting their first field goal until four minutes in. HVCC held a comfortable advantage throughout the first half, stretching it out to 15 after a Jordan Nelson layup with six minutes to go in the half. With the Vikings up 36-19 with five minutes left, the Panthers needed a spark to get back into the game. This spark came in the form of sophomore Brandon Votra (Saint Regis Falls. NY). The Panthers went on a 15-5 scoring run to close the half, with Votra recording six points, two assists, two steals, and three rebounds in the span. The Panthers went into the break down seven, and the momentum squarely in their locker room.

The Vikings started the second half just like they did the first though, getting out to a 20 points advantage on the back of a 19-6 run in the first six minutes. John Palmer led this outburst, hitting two threes and adding an assist and a steal in the stretch. The Panthers could never get the game back in check, and ended up being out scored in the second half 69-40. In total, six players scored in double-figures for HVCC, with Palmer, Nelson and Diamond Corker being the difference-makers. Corker led the team with 15 points on 3-7 shooting, adding three steals, three rebounds and a block. Palmer shot 4-6 from three for 14 points, and Nelson was three points shy of a triple-double with seven points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. For the Panthers, Votra finished with a game-high 27 points on 12-16 shooting, adding 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Sophomore Alex Johnson (Malone. NY) scored 19 in the loss, along with ten rebounds. As a team the Panthers shot 40.8% (29-71) from the field, but failed to impress at the line, shooting just 48.3% (14-29).

ACPHS looks to right the ship when they fly out to St. Louis, Missouri for a pair of games starting with their tilt with Concordia Seminary on Thursday, November 12^th at 7pm central time. HVCC hosts Jefferson on Thursday, November 11^th at 7pm, looking for their fourth straight win.