GREENVILLE, Ill. -- A raucous and standing-room only crowd enjoyed the men's basketball team's first conference tournament game at home since 1999 as the Panthers defeated Principia 120-114 on Friday night.

GC delighted well over 1,000 fans as the gym was filled to capacity, and they held a surging Principia at bay in the final moments of the game. 

Greenville led the entire contest, and they held an advantage of as many as 26 before Principia came back.

Over the last 10 minutes of game, Principia worked their way back to a three point deficit.

The Panthers entered the locker room with a 66-51 lead thanks to Kenny Greene's fade away three-pointer that banked home at the buzzer.

Seven Panthers scored more than 10 points.  Elmo Smith and Michael Hohm were GC's leading scorers with 19 points apiece.  Smith added nine rebounds.

Stevonte Young dropped in 16 points.  Shane Smith and DeAndre Brown both added 12 points.

Johari Dix passed out six assists.

The Panthers (21-5) host Westminster on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the SLIAC tournament championship game, and a berth to the NCAA Division III championship is on the line.

The 2016-17 Panther squad now stands tied with the 1995-96 men's basketball team as one of three men's basketball teams in school history to win 21 or more games in a single season.