OWENSBORO, KY. - Action continued on Saturday at the Kentucky Wesleyan College Thanksgiving Classic presented by Hampton Inn by Hilton at the historic Sportscenter. The Kentucky Wesleyan men's basketball team suffered a 74-68 loss to Indiana University Southeast in the final game of the weekend. The Panthers held a double-digit lead at the break, but a hot shooting IUSE team came charging back in the second half. 

The Panthers (1-3) used smothering defense and timely shooting to build a 31-19 lead in the first half of play. Wesleyan knocked down six three-point shots in the opening half while IUSE converted on only six field goals throughout the same time. Adam Goetz hit half those shots form the perimeter and started the game with nine points. However, turnovers became the story of the night. Despite the 12-point lead, the Panthers turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half and finished the game with 21. 

IUSE started the second half forcing two quick Panther miscues and got to the rim twice for four quick points. Mohamed Abu Arisha momentarily stopped the momentum from building with a three-point basket, but the Grenadiers (5-3) kept charging. 

Five minutes into the second half Jamie Johnson produced a steal and lay-up to the cut the IUSE deficit to 34-29. Five minute later the Grenadiers took a 43-42 lead. Back-to-back three point buckets by Deng Mayot and Cameron Cartwright returned a five point lead to the Panthers, 48-43. Wesleyan ran-off a 12-3 run taking a 54-46 lead with less than nine minutes left in the game. 

IUSE refused to go away and responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take a 58-54 lead. The Panthers would not see the lead again. With four minutes remaining the Grenadiers held a 61-56 lead and out of the media timeout got to the basket for two layups. Moments later David Burton hit a three-point basket and the lead was 10, 68-58, with two minutes left. 

IUSE did not give the Panthers any openings down the stretch and picked-up the victory. Mayot came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 11 rebounds for a double-double. Erik Bell added 14 points while Goetz finished with 12. Abu Arisha finished with 14 rebounds to go along with seven points. 

The Panthers will travel to Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday to open Great Midwest Conference play against Trevecca Nazarene. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:15PM CT. 

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