Southwestern Community College’s men’s basketball team played an “excellent” first half, but “little things” in the second half cost the team a win in a 59-53 loss to Ellsworth in league play here on Wednesday.

After taking a 28-17 lead into the halftime break, the Spartans came out in the second half and gave up an 8-0 run to the Panthers to start the half, allowing the lead to be cut to five points.

But, Southwestern recovered, and after a Jack Harrison basket in the post, stretched its lead back to nine points at 38-29.