Full-strength Panthers roll - Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

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Kentucky Wesleyan College got the chance to see what it can do with all its major contributors on the floor Friday night.

The Panthers (5-1) easily handled Lambuth 105-55 in the first game of the Hampton Inn/Worth Insurance Owensboro Classic at the Sportscenter.

They had point guard Desmond Stephens back from hamstring problems that caused him to miss the last two games, and he helped make a significant difference with 16 points, eight assists and no turnovers.

Andree' Wilson put up a game-high 19 points, going 9-of-11 from the free-throw line, after missing the last two games because of a suspension.

"From a leadership and toughness standpoint, they make a big difference," KWC coach Todd Lee said. "With Desmond and Andreé you tell them something one time and they tell everybody else on the team."

Willie Richardson was another Panther in fine form after an extended absence.

The 6-foot-2 junior had also been nursing injuries and was important with the energy and attitude he brought to the court. That didn't even include his 18 points, five assists and four steals.

"Coach says to bring energy off the bench," Richardson said. "When we're out there with a lot of energy and having fun, then winning is the result."

Breland McKnight continued to be impressive on the inside, scoring 17 points, including a 3-point jumper from the top of the key and a follow shot on KWC's next possession in the second half. He had a double-double with 10 rebounds.

"Breland has just got to get in better shape and sustain effort," Lee said. "He is a very skilled player."

KWC turned it up on the defensive end, which was a major point of contention after the Panthers left Bryan with a 71-57 win on Tuesday night.

There weren't a lot of noticable lapses until very late on Friday, when the contest had been decided.

Stephens took a charge with KWC up 39 points.

Shawn Rouse and Richardson were still getting on the floor when the ball got loose.

"You've got to play every possession like it's your last," Richardson said. "The game is not over until the horn blows."

There was motivation for McKnight to prove he had been paying attention to instructions over the last couple of days.

"(Lee) chewed me up in the film sessions," McKnight said. "I wanted to show him that I could listen."

Lee has been trying to stress that the Panthers have to play all the way through the 40 minutes.

"We're so far from where we need to be that we've got to get better every possession," Lee said.

KWC held Lambuth (6-2) to 36.5 percent shooting overall (19-of-52) and 25 percent from 3-point range (4-of-16).

"We helped a lot better, and we were talking better in this game," Wilson said.

KWC's Chris Williams only scored five points but pulled down 15 rebounds and had four steals in 20 minutes.

KWC made 34-of-73 from the floor for 46.6 percent. The Panthers hit 10-of-29 from 3-point range for 34.5 percent. They also made 27-of-33 from the free-throw line for 81.8 percent.

The Panthers face Alaska-Fairbanks (2-2), a 80-64 winner over Brescia (3-3) on Friday, in the second game tonight. It is expected to start around 8:30.

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