Panthers drop doubleheader; regular season ends Saturday

February 28, 2019 | 11:28 pm

Updated February 28, 2019 | 11:32 pm

Illustration by The Owensboro Times

The Kentucky Wesleyan College basketball teams took a pair of losses on the road Thursday night. While the women are now in a tie for first in the conference, the men have been eliminated from postseason play.

Both teams wrap up the regular season Saturday at Hillsdale College.

WOMEN
The Panthers suffered a 75-71 setback at the University of Findlay on Thursday in Great Midwest Athletic Conference action. With one game remaining, the Panthers (21-6, 17-4) are in a three-way tie with Cedarville and Walsh for the G-MAC regular season title, with the right to host the G-MAC semifinal and championship game on the line.

A tight contest from start to finish, neither team lead by more than 6 points Thursday night.  The largest lead for the Panthers came when Emma Johnson knocked back a 3-pointer and a pair of layups to start the second period. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Findlay knotted the game at 26 with 6:01 left in the first half.

Wesleyan went up again, but the Oilers utilized a 7-0 run to take a 37-36 lead at the break.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Keelie Lamb and Johnson gave Wesleyan a 47-43 lead midway through the third frame. Five points in the final 21 seconds put the Panthers ahead 58-52 heading into the fourth.

Findlay opened the fourth with another 7-0 run to take a 59-58 lead with just over six minutes remaining. With 2:17 remaining, Lily Grimes scored a layup to give Wesleyan a 2-point lead, but the Oilers closed out the game with an 8-0 run.

Johnson paved the way with 19 points off the bench, including four 3-point baskets. Lamb added 1, while Kaylee Clifford led the Panthers with 7 rebounds.

Wesleyan has already earned the right to host the G-MAC quarterfinal on Tuesday at the Sportscenter with their opponent still to be determined.

MEN
The Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team was only down 2 points at halftime, but No. 8 Findlay pulled away for an 81-59 victory. Deng Mayot led Wesleyan with 17 points.

After a back-and-forth start, the Panthers (9-16, 7-12) took a 21-17 lead midway through the period. Mayot continued his hot start with a couple of 3-point baskets that allowed Wesleyan to go up 27-22. The Oilers (24-3, 17-2) responded with three consecutive buckets from long range to turn the deficit into a 4-point lead.

Erik Bell tied the game with 35 seconds left in the half with a three-point basket, but a putback gave Findlay a 35-33 halftime lead.

The Oilers used a 19-2 run to create separation and cruise down the stretch to a win.

Mayot also pulled in 6 rebounds to go along with his 17 points. Zach Hopewell finished with 13 points and Adam Goetz added 10.

February 28, 2019 | 11:28 pm

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