KWC finishes strong on road - Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

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Kentucky Wesleyan College finished up its longest swing of road games this season in highly successful fashion on Saturday, beating Quincy 85-73 to snap the Hawks' 12-game home winning streak.

The victory was the No. 16 Panthers' fourth in five straight road games that started with a Jan. 18 trip to Rockhurst.

"We played some really good teams during this road trip, and I think our guys looked forward to the challenge," KWC coach Todd Lee said. "A lot of times you can get close as a unit, and the guys did that hanging out together. But it will be nice to be home. We have been on the road for over two straight weeks, and we've played a lot of games, too."

The Panthers (21-3, 10-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference) got this one in hand by taking care of the ball against the No. 19 team in NCAA Division II.

KWC committed just seven turnovers, including four in the second half, and forced Quincy into 19 miscues. KWC had 10 steals.

"The key was not turning the ball over," Lee said. "As long as we take care of the basketball, we've got a shot. And a lot of those turnovers that we caused we turned into baskets. We turned them over, and that was the difference in the game."

The Panthers ended up with 23 points off turnovers.

KWC got significant offensive production from Chris Williams and Desmond Stephens.

Williams had a team-high 22 points and snapped a string of games where he hadn't shot well from 3-point range by hitting 5-of-9 against Quincy.

Williams scored three straight 3-pointers and had 12 straight points for KWC on the way to establishing a 60-45 lead with 12:12 left in the second half.

"That was a big stretch," Lee said. "We did a good job of locating Chris, and he was open."

Stephens scored 19 points, had five assists and three turnovers in 32 minutes. Marico Stinson had 13 points and Willie Richardson 12, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the floor.

KWC held the lead throughout the second half, but did watch Quincy get within five, 76-71, with 1:44 left before Stephens, Richardson, Maros Zuffa and Andree' Wilson made nine free throws down to stretch to seal it.

The Panthers were effective shooting the ball, hitting 29-of-62 from the floor for 46.8 percent. They were 11-of-26 on 3-pointers for 42 percent and 16-of-21 from the free-throw line for 76 percent.

Billy Baptist scored 22 points to lead Quincy (17-3, 8-3). Courtney Belger added 17 points and Justin Brock had 13.

The Hawks made 27-of-51 from the floor for 52.9 percent and 9-of-16 on 3s for 56 percent. Quincy was 10-of-19 on free throws (52.6 percent).

KWC was outrebounded 36-29.

The Panthers will play their next four games at the Sportscenter, starting Thursday night when Maryville comes in for another GLVC matchup.

"It will be nice to get back into a routine, get our guys to class and back to the Sportscenter," Lee said.

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