The Kentucky Wesleyan men’s and women’s basketball teams both picked up conference wins over Malone at home Saturday. The women opened the doubleheader with a come-from-behind 60-55 win, while the men used a solid first half to earn a 75-63 victory.
MEN
Mohamed Abu Arisha and Adam Goetz combined for 46 points for Wesleyan (4-5, 3-2 G-MAC), who led the entire 40 minutes and boasted a 53.8 shooting percentage to the Pioneers 33.8 percent.
Wesleyan opened the game with a 12-0 run in the first five minutes of action and never surrendered the double-digit lead until the 8:55 mark. Tarik Dixon halted Malone’s momentum with two straight baskets on a 3-pointer and a jumper in the paint.
Abu Arisha was a perfect 7-for-7seven from the floor in the first half, scoring 19 points, and the Panthers took a 45-29 lead to the break.
Malone threatened in the second half, cutting the deficit to three with just over 10 minutes remaining, though the Panthers responded with a lay up on three straight possessions.
Two minutes later, Abu Arisha converted a 3-point play to put Wesleyan ahead by 11. Malone outscored the Panthers by four in the second half, but Wesleyan held on for the 12-point victory.
Abu Arisha finished with a career high of 27 points along with 11 rebounds and his second double-double in as many games. Goetz tabbed 19 points while leading the team with seven assists. Bezold also reached double figures, scoring 10 points.
The Panthers hit the road next week to take on Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday. Wesleyan returns home on Dec. 29 to host Alice Lloyd to close out the calendar year.
WOMEN
After an last-minute 82-81 victory over Walsh on Thursday, the Panthers overcame a first-half deficit against Malone and finished the contest with solid defense to sweep the weekend.
With the win, the Panthers (6-3, 4-1 G-MAC) sit in second in the conference.
Wesleyan trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and went into the locker-room facing a 33-26 deficit, but with second-half adjustments the Panthers pulled ahead by the start of the fourth quarter.
After some back-and-forth, Kaylee Clifford tied the game at 55-55 with a lay-up with 31 seconds left. She completed the 3-point play to give the Panthers the edge.
Out of the Malone timeout, Jenna Martin stole the ball and found Kelsey Ivers on the fast break for another lay-up.
Malone missed a potential game-tying 3-point basket with four seconds left and were forced to foul, and Cali Nolot iced the game with two free throws.
Martin finished with 10 points and seven rebounds to help lead the comeback effort. Keelie Lamb also added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Lamb and Lilly Grimes dished out three assists each.
Wesleyan hosts IU East on Wednesday, then closes the month against Alice Lloyd on Dec. 29.
