Coming off a tough home loss on Tuesday night, the Panthers bounced back and defeated Lake County 78-61 on Thursday night.

The Panthers made 18-of-21 free throws and led by as many as 19 points in a road game they never trailed.

"Road wins are important in conference play. We knew we needed to come out early and set the tone. Defensively we were able to get four kills in the first half, which was a big part of our success," head coach Jon Rush said.

The Panthers thrive on defense and can be relentless in their pressure. Rush has talked about what a kill means and how valuable it is to their success. 

"A "kill" is when we earn three consecutive defensive stops. It has been something that we keep track of every game," Rush said.

Lake County managed 13 offensive boards and hung in there with the Panthers in the rebound margin despite trailing for the entirety of regulation. The coaching staff took note and will be looking for improvement.

"The rebounding margin was too close as we allowed them to get their average of 13 offensive rebounds. And we had 17 turnovers, both things that we need to do a better job of consistently," Rush said.

Kedric Anderson posted a game-high 19 points off the bench in the win, and Lonnel Strickland also contributed with 5 points off the pine.

The depth has improved in January, and the victories have been piling up. The Panthers outscored the opposition 28-8 in bench points, which could be a factor for continued Skyway success.

Currently 3-1 in Skyway play, the Panthers were 8-of-21 from three-point territory. Six of them were from Anderson and Matas Deksnys. The pair of stars received help from Kyren Gardner and his 13 points in 26 minutes.

In total, three Panthers reached double-figure scoring, but there is confidence in the coaching staff that they have many different players that can rise to the occasion.

"This month has been important for us. Due to some injuries and the frequency of games, it has allowed guys to find their roles. We have several guys that can impact the game, so it has been good to see that come full circle," Rush said.

A Saturday non-conference home matchup with Spoon River looms large for momentum before a pair of Skyway matchups next week. The Panthers will also host Aurora University next Friday, so three games in four days could test their depth again.

Catching fire in January and playing winning basketball has been a joy for Panther nation. If you miss any future home games in person, follow the team on our Facebook page and Youtube. Also, check out GoMCPanthers.com and our social media pages @McAthletics1924 for more upcoming featured recaps, previews, quotes, and all the latest news for Panther hoops.