Panthers Claw Past #10 Central Baptist in Thrilling Comeback

The Philander Smith Panthers pounced on an opportunity to take down the #10-ranked Central Baptist Mustangs in a nail-biter on November 30, 2024, earning a hard-fought 91-84 victory. It wasn’t smooth sailing for the Panthers, as Central Baptist roared to a first-half lead of 51-43. But like all great comeback stories, Philander Smith flipped the script in the second half, dominating with a 48-33 run to claim the win.

Leading the charge was Raymond Reece, who turned in a monster performance with 22 points and a whopping 16 rebounds. Seriously, the man was everywhere—shooting, rebounding, probably even handing out water bottles during timeouts. Not to be outdone, Evan Alexander came off the bench like a spark plug, adding 15 points to keep the Mustangs on their heels.

For Central Baptist, Jonas Carlisle had a solid outing, leading his team with 19 points. But even Carlisle’s efforts couldn’t keep the Mustangs afloat as they struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 42.9% from the field and a chilly 33.3% from three-point range.

Philander Smith, however, was red-hot, shooting 51.6% overall and an impressive 53.8% from downtown. The second-half surge wasn’t just a comeback—it was a statement. The Panthers proved they’re more than capable of holding their own against top-tier competition.

With this win, Philander Smith improves to 7-3 on the season, while Central Baptist takes a hit, falling to 8-2. For the Panthers, this game was a showcase of resilience, teamwork, and some downright lights-out shooting. As they ride the momentum from this victory, it’s clear the Panthers are more than ready to keep making waves in their season. Watch out, conference rivals—these cats have claws!