Box Score
Â
Kentucky Wesleyan is beginning to look like a basketball team ready to embark on a serious stretch run in the 2015-16 season.
The Panthers did just about everything right on Wednesday night in a dominating 101-67 conquest of visiting Central State before a sparse gathering at the Sportscenter.
The victory lifts No. 18 KWC to 20-3 — marking the storied program's 27th 20-win season — heading into Friday's highly anticipated home matchup with Trevecca Nazarene, which upset the Panthers 73-72 on Jan. 25 in Nashville.
"We passed the ball well, made the extra pass, and we got some good looks at the basket," KWC head coach Happy Osborne said. "We shared the ball well and we got some paint touches, which really opened up the inside-outside thing for us.
"We still have to pick it up at the defensive end to be the basketball team we want to be. We still must improve on defense."
The Panthers burst from the gate with a 23-9 game-opening run, but the Marauders (9-12) put together a 15-4 run of their own to pull within 27-24 with just under six minutes to go in the first half.
Wesleyan answered, however, by closing the half with a vicious 10-2 spurt to seize a comfortable 46-33 advantage by intermission.
Turns out, KWC, which shot 59 percent in the opening 20 minutes, was just getting warmed up.
The Panthers scored 15 of the first 22 points of the second half and went in front 61-40 on an 18-foot jumper by Blackwell at 16:10. Central State never got closer than 16 the rest of the way as KWC, which shot 66 percent in the second half, cruised down the stretch.
Blackwell led all scorers with 21 points, finishing 9-of-14 from the floor with a trio of 3-pointers. Ken-Jah Bosley produced 16 points and five assists. Manning produced 15 points and seven assists, and made all five of his 3-point attempts. Jordan Jacks added 10 points and a game-best 14 rebounds.
Wesleyan shot 62 percent for the game. including 10-of-17 accuracy from long distance (59 percent). The Panthers dominated the backboards, out-rebounding Central State 38-20, and made 75 percent of their free throws (15-of-20).
The Marauders got 16 points from Jeremy Brown and 14 from Tre' Edwards, but it was not nearly enough.
Now, the focus for KWC shifts to Trevecca.
"They're the best offensive team in the conference and we need to beat them if we want to win the (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) championship," Osborne said. "It's a big challenge, and we need to come ready to play.
"We need all the support we can possibly get from our great fans on Friday night. We need to protect our home court and we need as many fans in the Sportscenter as possible to help make that happen."
