Box Score
So much for a letdown happening after a big win.
Kentucky Wesleyan College (14-0, 6-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference) stepped on the gas and never really slowed down en route to a 92-58 win over Saint Joseph's on Saturday at the Sportscenter.
Aside from a late first-half run by St. Joe's (4-9, 2-6 GLVC) that brought the game within four points, 28-24, it was all KWC.
Coach Todd Lee credited his team's fast start, highlighted by an 18-3 run over a 7:27 span to go up by 25-12 midway through the first half, as big factor on Saturday.
"I thought that was big for us to start well," Lee said. "They played Southern Indiana very tough the other night. We have a game against Indianapolis – quick turnaround – to come out and start well, I thought was big, not to let them have a lot of confidence. They're a team that, if they get some confidence, can be dangerous when they shoot the ball."
The Pumas went 16-of-36 on 3-pointers against USI on Thursday, so defending the 3 was a focal point on defense, Lee said.
KWC clamped down, holding the Pumas to just 5-of-25 (20 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Panthers were 9-of-17 from 3-point range, with Kreig Oxley and J.D. Danforth hitting three apiece.
The Panthers held the Pumas to just five points off turnovers and just seven fast break points. KWC, however, scored 17 points off of 19 St. Joe's turnovers.
"We were in the bonus and we wanted to get the ball in paint and attack the basket," Lee said. "We got in the bonus in the second half with 13 minutes to go in the game. We just wanted to keep attacking. Our goal was to defend the 3-point line the best we could and keep them off the free throw line.?We knew we'd have an advantage at the free throw line, just because of the number of 3s they shoot.
"So I thought we defended that well and we just wanted to keep attacking the basket."
KWC went 23-of-27 at the free throw line while St. Joe's was just 7-of-9.
A 12-point halftime lead extended to a 24-point lead, 67-43, with 11 minutes left and that effectively put the nail on the coffin.
Senior center Dazmond Starke recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Donovan Johnson also tallied a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
"I felt like I ran the floor well. I felt like I was able to get on the boards," Starke said of his double-double. "My main focus today was to get a lot of rebounds. Last game I only had two rebounds, so I made sure I got on the boards this game. Basically, my teammates just found me in open spots and I just finished. That's how it goes."
Freshman point guard Lucas Barker played 32 minutes, a relatively low number for him. He picked up two fouls in the first half then a technical foul in the second half after he made a 3-pointer.
But guard J.D. Danforth, who's earned a starting spot as of late, picked up the slack with 13 points and three rebounds. Rico Ferguson and Kreig Oxley also added 13 points.
KWC now turns it focus to No. 15 USI, which upset No. 5 Indianapolis on Saturday.
