The Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s and women’s basketball teams handily won both games in Thursday night’s doubleheader at the Sportscenter, giving them the season sweep of Trevecca Nazarene University.
Both teams used strong second halves to pull away, and the men won 69-48 after the women started the night with a 75-56 victory.
MEN
The Panthers (6-6, 4-2 G-MAC) got a double-double from Mohamed Abu Arisha after a slow start to the contest. A 19-16 lead through the opening 12 minutes turned into a 26-19 at the half.
Deng Mayot started the second half with a thunderous dunk off a lob pass from Abu Arisha, a Panther run midway through the second frame more than doubled their lead. Tarik Dixon started a 12-5 rally with driving layup and Adam Goetz capped it off with a 3-pointer.
Abu Arisha finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, recording his fourth double-double in the last five games. He also dished out 5 assists on the night. Goetz finished with 10 points and 5 assists, Mayot had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Dixon scored 13 points off the bench.
Wesleyan hits the road on Jan. 12 as they will travel Alderson Broaddus for another conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
WOMEN
Eleven different players scored for the Panthers (9-3, 5-1 G-MAC), who had to fend off a second-quarter attack that left the game tied at 28-28 at halftime.
Holding a one-point lead with five minutes to go in the third, a layup by Kaylee Clifford sparked an 18-7 run that featured three 3-pointers to give the Panthers a comfortable lead heading into the final period.
The teams traded buckets earlier in the fourth, but a jumper by Jenna Martin with 5:56 to go put Wesleyan up by double digits for good.
Martin led with 15 points, while Clifford and Keelie Lamb each added 13. Clifford also pulled down 6 rebounds.
The Panthers are back in action Saturday when they travel to Davis & Elkins at 4:30 p.m.
