OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team opened the historic Sportscenter for the 2019-20 season on Saturday afternoon against Urbana University. The Blue Knights erased a double-digit second half deficit to upset the Panthers 56-53.
 
As both teams struggled to find rhythm on offense, the Panthers (0-2) scored the first 10 points of the game as Mohamed Abu Arisha converted a three-point play to complete a 10-0 run. The Blue Knights (1-2) countered with an identical 10-0 of their own as things remained even through the first 10 minutes.
 
The Panthers gain some traction through the back door as Jo Griffin and Tyler Bezold made back-to-back easy lay-ups in transition to return a four-point lead to Wesleyan. Bezold followed with a three-point basket as the lead grew to 17-10. The run continued to 11-0 after Wyatt Battaile's lay-up followed by two Erik Bell free throws.
 
A few late threes by Urbana narrowed the gap as the Panthers went into the locker-room with a 25-20 lead. In the first five minutes of the second half, Wesleyan had doubled its lead, 35-25 after a Griffin's lay-up. The Panthers led by as many as 11 points in the frame and with 10 minutes left in the contest held a double-digit lead.
 
In an unusually flowing game, the Panthers converted on two baskets from outside the paint in the final 20 minutes. A lay-up by Kyle Kegley gave the Blue Knights a 50-49 lead with less than four minutes left in the game. Bezold found the answer for the Panthers as his lay-up with 2:31 left return a one-point edge to Wesleyan, 51-50.
 
A late turnover by the Panthers allowed Urbana to run the length of the court with Shaun Monroe scoring the go-ahead lay-up with 48 seconds left. With 22 seconds left another Wesleyan turnover resulted in two Urbana free-throws to extend the lead to 54-51.
 
The Panthers went immediately to the basket as Abu Arisha converted a lay-up to pull-back within one, 54-53. Wesleyan trapped on the in-bounds pass before fouling with five seconds left. Two more free-throws gave the Blue Knights a three-point edge as the Panthers final shot came after the horn.
 
Abu Arisha finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds. Griffin added 12 points and three assists while Bezold recorded 11 points off the bench.
 
The Panthers will travel to Evansville on Monday night to reunite with Southern Indiana. Wesleyan will help open Screaming Eagles Arena with a 7 PM tip-off.