Box Score
The Kentucky Wesleyan men's basketball team was the most effective offensively as its ever been in a 95-46 victory over conference foe Salem International on Thursday night at the Sportscenter.
The Panthers (20-7, 9-4 in G-MAC) converted 37-of-54 shots from the field for a school-record 68.5 percent, which broke the previous mark of 67.9 percent that KWC set nearly 31 years ago against Lewis on March 4, 1984. Most of the Panthers' damage was done driving to the basket, as they outscored the Tigers 52-26 in the paint and finished with 10 dunks for the game.
KWC also forced 31 turnovers for a 49-15 advantage in points off turnovers, held a 36-19 rebounding edge and got out in transition for a 27-4 lead in fast-break scoring. The Panthers shared the ball well as well, gathering 24 assists on their 37 made baskets.
According to second-year KWC coach Happy Osborne, the area the Panthers struggled was ball control.
"We excelled in turning our own ball over, 23 times," he said. "That was awful. That's the only negative."
KWC was led by Devin Langford's 16 points — many of which came off his flurry of five dunks in three minutes during the first half. Langford's halfcourt steal and subsequent jam put the Panthers up 29-6 with 11:03 left in the first half, and they never looked back from there.
Ken-Jah Bosley added 11 points for KWC, while Tre Boutilier, Basil Deveaux and Zay Henderson chipped in 10 points each. All 12 players scored for the Panthers, and all played at least seven minutes.
"I thought we got off to a good start," Osborne said. "Our guys early were good, and it's nice to be able to play a lot of people.
"Good energy, we've just got to be consistent. If we ever do that, we'll be fine before this thing's said and done. The last two have been good."
The Tigers (3-20, 1-12) were paced by Tyler Bell, Gerard Tarin and Abel Tillman, who scored 10 each. No player had more than two rebounds or two assists in the loss.
Salem International made just 16-of-45 shots from the field for 35.6 percent and 1-of-14 from 3-point range for 7.1 percent.
The Panthers have just one game remaining on their schedule — Saturday's matchup against Ohio Valley — as they try to hold off Central State (17-10, 9-4) for the second seed in the G-MAC Tournament and a first-round bye, but Osborne knows it's a process.
"This is another step," Osborne said of Thursday's victory. "Saturday was a good step, this is a good step."
