OWNESBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team shined defensively on Saturday to pick-up a landslide victory in the final game of the KWC Thanksgiving Classic. The Panthers held down Delta State the entire day in a 74-44 win as three players finished in double figures, including Rasheide Bell who flirted with a double-double.
 
The Statesmen (2-4) were held to 17% shooting from the field in the opening half and played from behind the entire game. Dakota Quinn dropped in two early baseline jumpers as the Panthers (3-4) scored the first five points of the game. DSU only made five field goals in the first 20 minutes as Wesleyan built a 20-point lead after a 22-3 run.
 
Wesleyan led 30-17 at the break as Cameron Burkett dropped in a three-point basket before the horn. The Statesmen's deficit never got beneath 15 points and the Panthers pushed its lead to 22 (41-19) five minutes into the second half and after Daniel Dzierzawski three-point play.
 
The Panthers' lead reach as many as 32 in the second half as Delta State never threatened. Wesleyan scored 19 points off 15 Statesmen turnovers and held a 30-5 advantage in bench scoring. Bell finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Evan Milligan added 14 points off the bench. He also pulled-in seven rebounds. Dzierzawski chipped-in 14 points.
 
The Panthers will open Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Thursday with a match-up against the pre-season favorite No. 18 Findlay. Tip-off at the Sportscenter is scheduled for 7:45PM.
 
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