OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team provided an explosive first half en route to a 100-68 victory over Oakland City University. The Panthers sustained an impressive offensive effort throughout the game while Jo Griffin and Nick Fort recorded career-highs. Adam Goetz was an assist away from a double-double.
 
A 13-2 run early on boosted the spirits inside the historic Sportscenter as the Panthers built a 21-7 lead in just over six minutes. J.D. Hoover connected on a three-point basket to pull the Mighty Oaks (1-4) within 23-12, but the Panthers' defense started to function in full force. The defensive effort held OCU scoreless for four minutes while Zach Hopewell started a 13-0 run with a three-point basket of his own as the Panthers built a 36-12 lead.
 
The Mighty Oaks rotated eight players on and off the court and as the minutes started to mount, the Panthers pulled away. Wesleyan connected 52% of its shots from the field in the first half, knocking down eight three-point baskets in building a 54-21 lead at the break.
 
OCU found their shooting touch in the second half as they made half of their shots in the final 20 minutes. The Mighty Oaks scored 47 points in the second stanza, but the Panthers' 33-point lead never dipped below 20 points the rest of the way.
 
Goetz, fresh-off a career- high at Southern Indiana, finished with 22 points and nine assists. The Panthers' offense featured 30 assists on 40 made baskets. Griffin added a career-high 19 points while pulling-in a career-high nine rebounds. Fort came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points and grab three boards.
 
A trio of Panthers finished nine points, Mohamed Abu Arisha, Erik Bell, and Wyatt Battaile. Both Battaile and Abu Arisha each grabbed five rebounds while Bell dished out seven assists. The nine points by Battaile is a career-high while the seven assists by Bell is also a career-high.
 
The Panthers will have over a week to prepare for the Thanksgiving Classic. Wesleyan will host four games in two days starting on November 29-30^th. The Panthers will take on Wheeling University on Friday November 29^th. Tip-off at the Sportscenter is scheduled for 7:45PM with Tiffin and Auburn-Montgomery preceding the game at 5:30PM.