BALTIMORE, MD - Zach Smith continued his offensive outburst in the second half of the season as he helped lead the Baltimore City Panthers to an 88-74 win over the CCBC Dundalk Lions. The Panthers improve to 10-10 on the season as Lions fall to 12-9 on the year.

Dundalk started out the game looking like the more motivated team as they jumped out to 23-12 lead midway through the first half as the battle of the Neverdon brothers was leaning towards the Lions' Charles Neverdon. The Panthers started to claw their way back to cut it down to a 45-36 deficit at halftime.

The Panther defense really started to clamp down early in the second half, holding the Lions to just three points over the opening six minutes. Baltimore City proved effective at the free throw line with Smith converting a three point play followed by a Blake Neverdon three pointer to give the Panthers their first lead of the game. Kut Deng hit a clutch three pointer followed by Smith completing a basket with a foul as the Panthers began to open up their lead. A third old fashioned three point play by Smith with six minutes left increased the Baltimore City lead up to seven. The Panthers defense continued to create turnovers as an Ifanieye Lewis three pointer and a Marquise Delahaye off-balance layup took the wind out of the Lions. Baltimore City did a great job of hitting their free throws down the stretch as the Panthers pulled out a big road win over a local rival.

Smith led the way once again for the Panthers with 28 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals including 12 free throws. Neverdon scored 15 pints with Delahaye and Deng joining the double-digit club with 12 points each. Lewis and Carlos Green scored 9 and 7 points respectively off the bench while Joshua Bryant chipped in 5.

The Panthers will continue their grueling stretch of away games as they travel to the powerhouse Monroe College Mustangs on Thursday, February 8 at 6 PM. The Mustangs are 18-5 on the season and are currently on a nine game winning streak.