OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team was short-handed yet again on Saturday, but it was not a problem down the stretch. Brandon Hatton hit two big three-point baskets while Rasheide Bell went for 23 points in a 75-68 overtime victory over Hillsdale College.
 
Hatton, Bell, and Bird Cardwell each logged over 40 minutes on the night as the Interim Head Coach Jason Mays primarily rotated seven players on the floor over the duration. Hatton gave the Panthers (4-5, 1-1 G-MAC) a 41-33 lead with 15 minutes left in regulation, but the Chargers (7-2, 1-1 G-MAC) scored eight straight to tie the game.
 
The Great Midwest battle went back-and-forth to the finish as it remained a one possession game until the end of the half. Hillsdale inched ahead 61-58 with less than three minutes left, but Hatton rolled off a screen and found an open three from the wing. Hatton buried the shot to tie the game with 44 seconds left as Amir Warnock blocked Austen Yarian's potential game-winning attempt.
 
The Panthers had the ball with 4.9 seconds left in the front court, but Evan Milligan's attempt to win went long and five more minutes were put on the Sportscenter clock. Dylan Lowry gave the Chargers a 66-65 lead midway through the extra frame, but Hatton answered again with another three-point basket, giving Wesleyan a 68-66 lead with 88 seconds left in the game.
 
Ryan Badowski tied the game with a minute left with a physical lay-up. However, Bell returned a two-point edge (70-68) with a pair of free-throws with 44 seconds left. The Panthers' defense was up to the task late as Bell stole the Chargers' next possession and made two more free-throws to make it a two-possession game (72-68).
 
The Chargers went dry from the arc in the final seconds as they did not score again while the Panthers put their free-throw shooting on display. Wesleyan led 31-27 at end of the first frame, shooting 60% from the field with 10 turnovers.
 
Amir Warnock had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Bell led the team with 23 points on seven of 13 shooting. Bell also had six assists. Hatton added 20 points and four rebounds while Cardwell finished with nine points and seven assists.
 
The Panthers will travel to Columbus, Ohio on Thursday to play Ohio Dominican. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM CT.
 
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