HILLSDALE, Mich. – Playing on the road during Great Midwest Conference play is never easy, especially when the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team was eyeing a match-up with the league's front-runner Hillsdale College on Thursday evening. The Chargers withstood the Panthers second half run to pick-up a 72-60 victory at Potter Arena.
 
The Panthers (6-10, 5-4 GMAC) have shown throughout the season they are fully capable of scoring in bunches. Unfortunately, the Chargers (10-6, 6-1 GMAC) built a comfortable double-digit lead in the second half, enough of lead to absorb the Wesleyan run.
 
The first half saw the Panthers make one third of their shots from the field, including a one for second clip beyond the arc. Hillsdale was slightly better with their motion offense and took a 33-21 lead into the locker-room. Through the first five minutes of the second half the Chargers extended their lead to 15 points 43-28.
 
Wyatt Battaile buried a three-point basket while Stew Curry converted a lay-up off a Hillsdale miss to bring the Panthers to 43-33. Tavon Brown and Nathan Boyle exchanged three-point baskets while Jo Griffin knock-down a mid-range jumper to get Wesleyan back within single digits, 46-38.
 
With 10 minutes left in the game, Battaile split two free-throws to cut the Panthers' deficit to 51-44. It was the first of four occasions that Wesleyan would trailed by seven points in the second half, the last coming after another Griffin basket with over six minutes left. The Chargers pulled-away with a 15-2 run thereafter.
 
Battaile finished with 13 points and six rebounds to lead the Panthers. Adam Goetz added 10 points. Griffin scored nine points and dished-out seven assists. Zach Hopewell also recorded nine points.
 
The Panthers will travel to Findlay, Ohio on Saturday afternoon for a match-up with the Oilers. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 PM CT.
 
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