The Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team played a second exhibition game Saturday with a 91-76 loss at Western Kentucky University. The Hilltoppers’ fast start forced the Panthers to play from behind the entire game.
Both Adam Goetz and Zach Hopewell finished in double figures for KWC.
The Hilltoppers scored the first 10 points of the game and took a 20-5 lead through the first five minutes. Scoring slowed for both teams, and midway through the first half Wesleyan trailed 26-7.
Five points from Nick Fort in the final minute sent the Panthers into the locker-room facing a 55-30 deficit.
The second half started with Goetz finding Amandas Urkis open on the perimeter for a 3-pointer, but the Hilltoppers stretched their lead to 74-42 with 14 minutes left in the game.
Goetz hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a jumper from Zavon Godwin and layup from Nick Fort for 10-2 spurt by the Panthers, though it was too late at that point.
The Panthers played the Hilltoppers even in the second half, with each tam scoring 41 points. Hopewell scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half.
Goetz finished with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. Urkis added nine points in 12 minutes.
The Panthers will have a week to prepare for the season opener against Kentucky State. Tipoff at the Sportscenter is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.
Information courtesy of KWC Athletics.
