OWENSBORO, Ky. – For the third time in four seasons the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team has earned a berth in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship tournament. The Panthers are slotted as the No. 3 seed and will host the No. 6 seed Cedarville in the first round. Tip off is set for 7:45 pm CT at The Owensboro Sportscenter.
TICKETS
General Admission - $10
Students – Free with valid ID
Children (5 and younger) – Free with paid general admission
Tickets for the general public will go on sale at 5 pm CT on Monday, March 1 at www.owensborotickets.com.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Due to the ongoing pandemic, a limited capacity of 15% will be permitted (750 spectators). Spectators are expected to wear a face mask that covers both the nose and mouth at all times except when actively eating or drinking. Fixed seating allows for appropriate distancing between groups. Seats will be available in blocks of 1-6 seats. Unavailable seats will be clearly marked and sitting in those seats will not be permitted.
GREAT MIDWEST DIGITAL NETWORK
Tuesday's quarterfinal will be livestreamed for free on the Great Midwest Digital Network. Fans can access the livestream by clicking HERE.
SERIES HISTORY
The Panthers hold the series lead at 10-4 including a 6-2 record at The Sportscenter. Wesleyan won seven straight meetings from 2015 to 2018, but the Yellow Jackets have been victorious in the last three match ups. This is the first time the two teams will meet in the postseason.
LAST MEETING
Due to game cancellations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers and Yellow Jackets have yet to meet this season. Their last meeting came in Dec. 2019 with Cedarville winning 80-69 in Owensboro. Three scored in double figures in Adam Goetz (25), Zach Hopewell (16), and Stew Currie (10).
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Wesleyan earned the No. 3 seed in this years tournament with a record of 9-5 in G-MAC play. The Panthers were on a roll with five straight wins before COVID-19 protocols cancelled five of their last six games of the season. Wesleyan's last game came on the road at nationally-ranked Findlay on Feb. 16.
The Panthers rank second in the G-MAC in defense, holding opponents to 65.8 points per game. They also lead the conference in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 39.4% on the year.
Three Panthers are averaging double figures this season in Tre Cobbs (16.8), Zach Hopewell (13.5) and Wyatt Battaile (12.0). Cobbs is shooting 48.3% on the year. All three rank in the Top 25 in the conference.
Battaile paces the Panthers with 7.2 rebounds per game followed by Ben Sisson at 5.2. Sisson has a team-high 23 blocks. Jamil Wilson leads the team in both assists (63) and steals (19).
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Cedarville enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed with a record of 10-8 in G-MAC play this year. The Yellow Jackets lost their last three games of the regular season including a pair of losses to nationally-ranked Findlay and Hillsdale.
Five Yellow Jackets are averaging double figures in Branden Maughmer (16.8), Quinton Green (12.8), Kollin VanHorn (12.5), Conner TenHove (11.3) and Isaiah Speelman (10.2).
Speelman lead the team with 7.2 rebounds per game followed closely by Jacob Drees at 5.9 and Maughmer at 5.8. Maughmer leads the Yellow Jackets with 76 assists and 35 steals.
G-MAC QUARTERFINALS
Friday, March 2
Game 1 - No. 8 Trevecca Nazarene at No. 1 Hillsdale – 6:00 pm CT
Game 2 - No. 5 Walsh at No. 4 Malone – 5:00 pm CT
Game 3 – No. 6 Cedarville at No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan – 7:45 pm CT
Game 4 – No. 7 Ohio Valley at No. 2 Findlay – 5:00 pm CT
G-MAC SEMIFINALS (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Thursday, March 5
Game 5 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 6 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
G-MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 6
Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
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