OWENSBORO, KY. – It came down to wire at the historic Sportscenter on Thursday evening. In the end Walsh University walked away with a 61-60 Great Midwest victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team. Deng Mayot convert one of two free throws with eight seconds left to give the Panthers a one-point lead, but Darryl Straughter became the hero with fade-away, game-winning jumper in the final two seconds.
 
The Cavaliers (8-4, 4-1 G-MAC) erased a 10-point deficit in the second half only to take a 51-48 lead with five minutes left in the game. Adam Goetz converted a jumper off the glass and later a free throw that tied the contest. Mohamed Abu Arisha followed with a three-point play to give the Panthers (3-5, 2-2 G-MAC) a 54-51 lead.
 
After a some back and forth over the next three minutes, Abu Abrisha's fade-away jumper kept a three-point edge (59-56) with 48 seconds left in the game. However, Reece Bogan hit a three-point basket, tying the game with 35 seconds on the clock. As the Panthers ran down the shot clock as close to zero as they could, Mayot was fouled under the basket. With eight seconds left, Mayot split the pair. Out of the Wesleyan timeout, Straughter went the length of the floor and drove to the left baseline. With a hand in his face, Straughter made the fade-away jumper with a second left.
 
The Panthers could not get the final shot up before the backboard lights turned red. In a half court game, possessions were limited. Through first 13 minutes, the Cavs led 22-18, but the Panthers rattled off 14 unanswered points to build a double-digit lead. Abu Arisha capped-off the rally with a jumper while scoring six points in run. Two late free-throws by JT Shumate stopped the Panthers' momentum but they still went into the locker-room with a 32-24 lead.
 
Walsh tailed by 10 points early in the second half, but converted seven three-point baskets in the final 20 minutes to pull even and even hold a lead going into the final five minutes. The Cavs made nearly 50% of their attempts from the field as well in the second half while the Panthers made 37% from the floor and six of 10 from the charity stripe.
 
Abu Arisha finished with a career-high 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to record a double-double. Goetz added 19 points while Zach Hopewell came off the bench to score eight points and collect seven rebounds.
 
The Panthers will return to the Sportscenter on Saturday afternoon as Great Midwest play continues with Malone. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 PM CT.

The Wesleyan basketball teams have teamed up to host a Toy Drive on Saturday.  Fans who bring any new, unwrapped toy on Saturday will receive one coupon that can be redeemed for a general admission ticket to any remaining 2018-19 Kentucky Wesleyan basketball game.  The toys will be donated to Toys for Tots.
 
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