OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team took first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference on Saturday afternoon, posting a decisivie 96-59 win over Alderson Broaddus. The Panthers improve to 16-2 on the season and are the only unbeaten team in the conference at 5-0 in league play. The win marks the 14th straight and the 41st straight at home, dating back to November of 2014.
The Battlers suffered their first loss of the season in conference play, falling to 4-1 in the G-MAC and 7-10 overall.
Alderson Broaddus scored first with a three-pointer, but it would be their lone lead of the game as Kentucky Wesleyan scored six unanswered points including two lay-ups from
Malek Harris. The Battlers pulled within two midway through the period but a 15-0 run from the Panthers put them ahead 37-20. Strong defense from Kentucky Wesleyan held the Battlers to only two points in the final eight minutes of the first half, giving the Panthers a 45-22 lead at the break.
The Panthers continued their dominance in the second half, outscoring the Battlers 51-37 with their smallest lead standing at 22 points.
Sam Williams was unstoppable in the second half, shooting 10-for-13 and 3-for-5 outside the arc. Williams scored 25 of his 29 points during an eight minute span in the second half.
Malek Harris posted his first double double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Jordan Jacks was one rebound shy of his seventh double double of the season, posting nine rebounds, 14 points and four steals.
Michael Vigilance reached 10 points while also tabbing three blocks and four rebounds.
Kentucky Wesleyan scored 21 points off of 18 Battler turnovers. The Panthers held a slight advantage in second chance points, 11-8, but dominated the paint, outscoring the Battlers 52-22.
The Panthers will head to Oakland City on Jan. 25 for a non-conference matchup before returning home on Jan. 28 to host Trevecca Nazarene in a G-MAC contest with tip off set for 3:15 pm.
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