KWC men edge Walsh
A program with a rich basketball history rarely gets to experience firsts, but the Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team accomplished another first on Saturday in a 71-62 win over Walsh. The victory marks the first time in school history the Panthers defeated Walsh. The Cavaliers have produced two buzzer-beaters at the Sportscenter in recent years as well as defeating Wesleyan in the Great Midwest Conference Championship last season.
The 2021 version saw the Panthers (7-4, 6-4 GMAC) erase an eight-point halftime deficit and hold the high-powered Walsh offense to 20 second-half points. The Cavaliers (6-2, 5-2 GMAC) shot 25% in the second half and 36% for the game.
The Panthers trailed by 10 points early, but it was a two-point (30-28) game with less than four minutes left in the frame. The Cavs ran their lead up to 10 points with seconds left in the opening half. Zach Hopewell beat the buzzer at the break with a running jumper to pull the Panthers to within single digits, 42-34.
Sasha Sukhanov scored the opening basket of the second half as Tre Cobbs followed with seven consecutive points. After a 9-2 rally the Panthers were within one point, 44-43. Walsh enjoyed a lead as big as six points in the second half, but the final 12 minutes belonged to the Panthers.
Wyatt Battaile converted a pull-up jumper followed by back-to-back three-point shots by Hopewell and the Panthers were on top 53-51. Wesleyan trailed 56-55 with 7:23 left in the game, but Jo Griffin’s three that followed would give the Panthers the lead for good.
Cobbs got it done from the foul line as he finished the game eight of 10 from the charity strip. His two free-throws with four minutes left gave the Panthers a 65-59 lead. The following Cavalier possession came-up empty and the Panthers called time-out to set a crucial possession. Battaile worked through the lane and converted a floating jumper to move the contest into three possessions.
Another defensive stop resulted in another easy basket, this time from Ben Sisson under the basket. The Sisson basket gave the Panthers a 69-59 lead with two minutes left as they maximized their possessions down the stretch.
Cobbs finished the game with 19 points, 13 coming in the second half. Hopewell added 16 points on six of 12 shooting, including four of eight from the perimeter. With the four three-point baskets, Hopewell has made 100 career three-point shots in his Wesleyan career. Sukhanov recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, and one block. Sisson scored four points and pulled in a team-high eight rebounds.
The Panthers will remain in Ohio to take on Ohio Dominican on Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM CT.
KWC women fall to Cavs
In a crowded, but lonely Cecchini Center, the Kentucky Wesleyan College women’s basketball team dropped their matchup with Walsh. The Cavaliers came away with a 63-49 victory as both teams trail Cedarville in the overall Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings.
It was a physical match-up throughout where play under the basket was rigorous. The Panthers (9-4 GMAC) held a 15-10 lead after a bruising first quarter of play. The script was flipped in the second frame as Cavilers (7-3 GMAC) corrected their early shooting woes, connecting on 35% from the field in the first 10 minutes to 46% in the second.
Within the first two minutes of the second quarter, Kaylee Clifford made three free-throws to increase the Panthers’ led to 21-13. The Cavs defense held Wesleyan down from there as a late run allowed Walsh to go into halftime with the lead, 28-26.
The Panthers shooting percentage dropped into the 30s in the third frame while the Cavilers shot 80% to increase their lead to 47-40. Tahlia Walton faced foul trouble throughout the game but her basket to start the fourth quarter cut the Wesleyan deficit to five, 47-42. That would be as close as the Panthers would get as Walsh edged ahead to the finish.
Cali Nolot scored 10 points in the first half and finished with 16 and five rebounds. Walton, in limited action, added 15 points and grabbed three rebounds.Wesleyan did force the Cavs in 24 turnovers against 19 of their own.
On Thursday the Panthers will host Lake Erie College. Tip-off at the historic Sportscenter is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
These are Kentucky Wesleyan Athletics press releases.
