ATLANTA – After a bittersweet senior night, the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels fell 97-65 to the Birmingham Southern Panthers.
Before the game began, Oglethorpe took a moment to honor several graduating seniors. Oglethorpe's dance team, Khayos, will graduate three members: Jasmine Inkabi, Mariama Abdoul-Majeed and Camille Teague. The cheerleading team graduates two athletes: Brianna Daniels and Tana Taylor.
Men's basketball will graduate four Petrels: David Fischer, Warner Peaks, Ryan Jenei, and student manager Stan Eze.
Fischer was escorted by his father, David Fischer Sr. ('92), an Oglethorpe basketball alumnus. Jenei was also escorted by alumni, former teammates Trevor Gulley, Carlos Sone and Toju Etiwe. Peaks was accompanied by his parents Mark and Stephanie Peaks, while Eze was escorted by his host-mother Hayden Barber.
Thirteen Petrels made their way into the scoring column, with two hitting double digits. Jordan James led with 17, followed by Jonathan Awoleye with 11, Mason Kemp with eight, and Jackson Kemp with six points. Dylan Bennifield recorded three assists, while James and Mason Kemp each recorded two.
Birmingham Southern was the first to score, and managed to rack up eight points before James sunk a 3-pointer with assistance from Jackson Kemp. However, the Panthers would keep their lead for the remainder of the period, and ultimately the rest of the game. Oglethorpe persisted throughout the first half, with multiple 3-pointers from James and Mason Kemp.
The Petrels managed a 7-2 run against the Panthers in the final two minutes, which ended with a beautiful, buzzer-beating dunk from Awoleye. Despite high energy from both the team and the fans, Oglethorpe headed into halftime down 51-38.
The second half was tough for Oglethorpe, and Birmingham Southern continued to overwhelm the Petrels. In a heartbreaking conclusion, the Stormy Petrels fell 97-65 to the Birmingham Southern Panthers.
Game Notes
- Oglethorpe's record is now 8-13 (3-7 SAA).
- This was Uba Ezigbo's first game back after recovering from an injury.
- Ezigbo was not recognized in tonight's celebration, as he plans to return for another season with the Petrels.
- The student section was filled once again, with tonight being the first game since Oglethorpe's spring semester began.
- As a team, Oglethorpe recorded a 64.3% free-throw percentage.
- Awoleye recorded two blocks and three steals, both career highs.
Up Next
The Stormy Petrels will be home again to face Millsaps on Sunday, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. Only four games remain in the regular season, which will end at home against Berry on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.
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