OWENSBORO, Ky. – In a rematch of the 2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference title game, the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team nearly overcame a 23 point deficit, trimming the deficit to five points with less than two minutes remaining but the Panthers were unable to complete the comeback against Alderson Broaddus University on Saturday afternoon.

Daniel Dzierzawski put the Panthers ahead by one with a jumper less than one minute into the game but that lead would not last long as the Battlers responded with a three and never trailed from then on.  Alderson Broaddus tallied a 14-0 run over four minutes to jump out to a 12 point lead.  Brandon Hatton silenced the run with a jumper in the paint on the assist from Malek Harris.  Back to back jumpers from Evan Milligan pulled the Panthers within seven with 7:52 remaining in the first but the Battlers regained a double digit lead, taking a 49-32 advantage to the break.

Facing an 18-point deficit with 11 minutes remaining, the Panthers dug in for a 13-3 run over the next seven minutes to pull within eight points.  Hatton capped off the run with a steal in the back court and a lay up of his own.  A trio of free throws from Harris and Dzierzawski trimmed the deficit to seven.  Dzierzawski dished out an assist to Hatton on a lay up, making it a five-point game with 1:43 remaining.

With 19 seconds remaining in regulation, Hatton drilled a three-pointer that would have made it a two-point game but a late whistle on an offensive foul took the basket away.  Already in the bonus, plus a Wesleyan technical, allowed Alderson Broaddus to regain a nine-point lead after four straight free throws.  Chandler Redix nailed a deep three pointer to make it 80-74 with 11 seconds remaining but the Battlers held on for the win.

Harris recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.  Hatton tabbed a team-high in points and steals with 17 and 2 respectively.  Dzierzawski and Evan Milligan also reached double figures with 14 points and 10.  Amir Warnock recorded the lone block for the Panthers.

Kentucky Wesleyan hits the road next week for a pair of Great Midwest Athletic Conference games.  The Panthers head to Hillsdale College on Thursday with tip off set for 6:30 pm CT.  On Saturday Wesleyan heads to University of Findlay with a 12 pm CT start.  Saturday's matchup will be showcased on ESPN3 and streamed live on the ESPN app.

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