OWENSBORO, Ky. - The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team put forth its biggest offensive output of the season on Thursday evening. The Panthers ended the regular season with a 100-91 victory over Ohio Valley University. Daniel Dzierzawski went of a career-high on senior night to lead Wesleyan to the Great Midwest victory.
Chandler Redix gave the Panthers (15-15, 9-11 G-MAC) an 11-3 early lead with a three-point basket, but the tide turned shortly thereafter. At the 11 minute mark, Dylan Harrison gave the Fighting Scots (3-22, 2-17 G-MAC) a 19-17 lead with a three-point bucket. The OVU ball movement over the next seven minutes built a 12-point lead. Parker Black ended an 11-4 run that established the biggest Fighting Scots' lead of the game, 39-27.
Out of the final media timeout of the half the Panthers caught fire, ending the frame on a 13-2 run. Dzierzawski scored six points in the rally as Wesleyan went into the locker-room trailing 41-40.
Emotions began to run high in the second half as the Panthers continued its offensive display. Wesleyan scored the first eight points of the half with Rasheide Bell's jumper giving the Panthers a 48-41 lead. OVU clawed back as Harrison returned a lead to the Fighting Scots with 13 minutes left in the game (58-57). A barrage of free-throws shortly thereafter built a 64-59 lead.
Amir Warnock tied the game at 64, but the contest remained one possession for the next four minutes. The lead switch sides four times in the that stretch before the Panthers went on top for good, 77-73, after another Dzierzawski lay-up. Dakota Quinn followed with a fast-break dunk that pumped the lead up to 79-73.
The Panthers applied pressure in transition as the Fight Scots struggled to slow the game back down to their pace. However, timely baskets by the Scots kept their deficit in single digits. Alex Djordjevi's lay-up with four minutes left cut the Wesleyan lead down to 88-85. Four straight points by Dzierzawski built a seven point lead a minute later and provided the Panthers a big enough cushion to force OVU into rushed and off-balance shots.
Dzierzawski finished with a career-high 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting while making all eight of free throw attempts. He also grabbed six rebounds. Evan Milligan added 18 points while Bell recorded 17 points and five assists. Quinn added 10 points and blocked seven shots in 21 minutes of action.
The Panthers will head to Findlay, Ohio to play in the Great Midwest Conference Tournament. Wesleyan will enter the post season in the seventh or eighth spot.
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