CHANUTE, Kan. – The Neosho Panthers trailed by 12 points with less than 8 minutes left in the first half before a 13-0 run gave them the their first lead of the game. The Panthers overcame the sluggish start and held off the Cardinals 87-73 for their seventh straight win.
 
Despite playing without Jayhawk Conference leading scorer Tevin Foster (23.5 ppg) the Labette Cardinals (8-10) jumped out to an early lead against the Panthers. Neosho cut the lead to 1 at 12-11 with 11:20 left in the first but the Cardinals responded with a 14-0 run.
 
The Panthers answered back with a 13-0 run of their own to take a 27-26 lead. Brett Frantz' scored the final four points of the first half and gave the Panthers the lead for good at 33-30.
 
Many games this season the Panthers have pulled away in the second half after a close first half. Saturday would not be one of those games as the Cardinals wouldn't go away. The Panthers slowly built their lead but the trademark run that they have used this season never came.
 
BJ Jenkins led four Panthers in double figure with 23 points and 8 assists. It was the tenth time this season that Jenkins had scored 20 or more points.
 
Brett Frantz added 21 points while Joseph Acuil had 16 and Freddie McSwain finished with 13. Acuil also pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked 5 shots for his twelfth double-double of the year.
 
The Panthers will host Friends University Monday (Jan. 19) on Dollar Night. Admission for adults will be just $1.