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Maybe it was the first back-to-back losses since 2008.

Maybe the first-ever loss to Piedmont was still in the back of their minds.

Maybe there was a hex on the rim.

Whatever the reason might have been, Maryville College stumbled out of the blocks Saturday, needing more than six minutes before Dustin Brown connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key for the Scots’ first field goal against visiting LaGrange College.

MC gradually pulled together to take a 70-58 win over the Panthers, but never seemed to take the form of the squad that had won 16 of its first 18 games before two road losses.

Greg Hernandez finished with a game-high 21 after scoring nine of the Scots last dozen points to close out the contest.

Joe Cromwell led LaGrange with 16 and Nic Whitfield added 10. Marcus Vaughn tossed in another 10 for the Panthers in limited action after a blow to the mouth limited the freshman’s second-half minutes.

The Scots (17-4, 3-1) host Milligan in a Monday rematch of Maryville’s 76-74 loss 12 days ago and close out the regular season with trips to conference foe Huntingdon and future conference foe Covenant before a home finale with Piedmont, which scored an 80-78 overtime victory last weekend to take possession of first place in the GSAC standings.