TIFFIN, Ohio - The road trip continued for the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team as they visited Great Midwest newcomer, Tiffin University on Thursday evening. The Panthers, although shorthanded, emerged with a 71-67 victory as Adam Goetz made 14 free-throws and finished with a career high 25 points.
The supporting cast played a key role in the outcome of the victory as Erik Bell left the game early with an injury. Cameron Cartwright and Zach Hopewell stepped on the floor looking to fill the void. Wesleyan finished the game with a 27-12 advantage in bench points as the duo of Hopewell and Cartwright combined for 20 points.
The game started with the Panthers (3-3, 2-0 G-MAC) building a double-digit lead midway through the first half and led by as many as 14 points in the opening period. The Dragons (2-6, 0-3 G-MAC) attempted to make a run late, cutting the deficit to 33-25 with two minutes left, but Zach Hopewell buried back-to-back three-point shots to return a 14-point lead to Wesleyan.
Late free-throws by Tiffin allowed the Dragons to go into the locker-room facing a 39-28 deficit. The Panthers' lead did not last long as the Dragons came out in the second half firing from all over the floor. Through the first five minutes of the second half Tiffin was shooting at 71 percent, cutting the Panthers' lead to 46-40.
Wesleyan briefly built back a double digit lead, but the Dragons kept chipping away. The Panthers' offense sputtered for six minutes, allowing the Dragons to tie the game. The Dragons went on 13-3 run to tie the contest at 55 with eight minutes left.
As the outcome of the contest teetered back-and-forth to the finish, the Panthers managed to answer the Dragons on every attempt. In the last 90 seconds, the ball kept finding the hands of Adam Goetz. Twice Goetz was fouled as he drove the lane and each time he remained true from the charity stripe, giving Wesleyan a 67-63 lead. The Dragons' Joshua Williams got to the basket and cut the deficit in half on the ensuing possession as he converted a lay-up with 27 seconds left.
With the shot clock turned, Tiffin was forced to foul, this time they sent Hopewell to the line. After two more free-throws, the Panthers held a two possession lead 69-65. The Dragons missed-fired from the perimeter while Goetz finished his perfect night from the foul line with two more free throws.
The Panthers were forced into 22 turnovers on the night, but made up for it by converting 22 of 26 free throws. Goetz grabbed eight rebounds and dished-out five assists to go along with his career high 25 points. Deng Mayot added 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Hopewell finished with 13 points off the bench while Cartwright added seven points.
The Panthers will travel to Cedarville on Saturday afternoon to conclude the three-game road trip. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 PM CT.
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