OWENSBORO, KY. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's college basketball team started the New Year with a fashionable victory over Trevecca Nazarene University. The Panthers got a double-double from Mohamed Abu Arisha as they picked-up a season sweep over the Trojans with a 69-48 win.
The Panthers (6-6, 4-2 G-MAC) are a month separated from their previous meeting with Trevecca in Nashville, a 78-55 win. The 2019 version saw a half court game for the short-handed Trojans (1-10, 1-5 G-MAC). Trevecca shot 36% from the field on the night while committing 13 turnovers.
A slow developing contest at the start saw Wesleyan hold a 19-16 lead through the opening 12 minutes. The Panthers ended the half with small flurry, pulling ahead 26-19. Deng Mayot started the second half with a thunderous dunk off a lob pass from Abu Arisha, giving Wesleyan a 28-21 lead.
Nathan Harper's three-point basket with 12 minutes left in the game brought the TNU deficit to 37-32, but the Panthers rallied with a run that more than doubled their lead. Tarik Dixon started a 12-5 rally with driving lay-up. Adam Goetz capped-off the run with a three-point basket bringing the Wesleyan advantage to 49-37.
The Trojans were limited to 11 points in the final nine minutes as the Panthers continued to put points on the Sportscenter scoreboard. Dixon forced the lead to 15 points, 59-44, after a three-point basket with less than five minutes left in the game. The Panthers enjoyed a lead as many as 23 points in the final minute of the game as long offensive possession shortened the game.
Abu Arisha finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double. His fourth double-double in the last five games. He also dished out five assists on the night. Goetz struggled offensively at the start, but finished with 10 points and five assists. Mayot also tallied 10 points while pulling in seven rebounds. Dixon saw 30 minutes of action off the bench and finished with 13 points while Cameron Seaton went three of five from the perimeter to chip-in nine points off the bench.
The Panthers will have a break before getting back into the swing of the Great Midwest basketball schedule. Wesleyan will hit the road on January 12th as they will travel to Philippi, West Virginia for a match-up with Alderson Broaddus. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 PM CT.
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