Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

Scoreboard

No. 16 KWC streaks past Lewis, 77-65
Jay Ivey recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

No. 16 KWC streaks past Lewis, 77-65

Box Score

The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team had one shot against Lewis this season to end a three-game slide against the Flyers.

The 16th-ranked Panthers made it count.

Shaking off a slow start, KWC broke open a close game midway through the second half and beat Lewis 77-65 Thursday night in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Romeoville, Ill.

Desmond Stephens led the Panthers with a game-high 22 points, and Jay Ivey recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

"This road trip is big," KWC coach Todd Lee said. "Getting three out of four to start the trip is big. I think our guys have taken the challenge of playing on the road. Our schedule is so tough. It's important to win these."

Key for the Panthers was turning a halftime deficit in rebounding into a 39-34 advantage by the end of the game. They also began getting buckets inside, taking just seven 3-pointers in the second half after attempting 17 in the first 20 minutes.

KWC (20-3, 9-2 GLVC) and Lewis (12-8, 4-7) traded the lead through the first half and the first 11 minutes of the second. But then the Panthers' bench came through with the game-deciding run.

Travis Owsley scored to put KWC ahead for good at 58-56 and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Andree' Wilson grabbed the rebound.

Wilson, who had seven boards off the bench, was fouled and hit one of a pair from the stripe for a 59-56 edge.

The Panthers then turned Lewis over on a 5-second call on an inbounds play, and Wilson hit a runner off the glass to give KWC a 61-56 edge.

Lewis called timeout, but missed a shot and Wilson grabbed another board.

Willie Richardson scored on a runout. That put KWC on top 63-56 with 6:20 left in the game.

The Flyers managed to pull within 66-60 when Chris McClellan hit two free throws. Both teams then traded trips down the floor before Stephens drained a 3 to give KWC a 69-60 lead with 3:20 to play.

"That four- or five-minute stretch was the difference in the ball game," Lee said.

Dennis Thomas Jr. led Lewis with 13 points. Justin Jarosz and Marty Strus added 12 points each. The Flyers shot 42 percent from the field, 23-for-55, and 12-of-16 at the line for 75 percent.

Lewis committed 15 turnovers.

Ivey finished 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 at the line for the Panthers. KWC shot 42 percent from the field, 28-for-66, and 12-of-17 at the line for 71 percent. KWC had nine turnovers.

The Panthers face No. 19 Quincy (16-2, 7-2) on Saturday in the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Ill.

Print Friendly Version