OWENSBORO, KY. – From the opening tip, the Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team was more aggressive on Saturday night for the second day to the Midwest Region Crossover. The Panthers faced No. 5 Indianapolis in the final game of the annual series as the Greyhounds escaped with a 64-60 win.
The Greyhounds (1-1) avoided falling to 0-2 at the Owensboro Sportscenter as they held off the Panthers in the final five minutes. However, the game started with Hounds scoring on their first four possessions and taking a 10-0 lead.
Alex Gray lifted the energy in the building by getting to basket and converting a three-point play.
The Panthers trailed by as many at 14 points in the first half, 33-19 with six minutes left in the frame. The defensive energy spurred the Panthers to intermission.
NaVuan Peterson cut the deficit to 10 and after he missed a three,
Kennedy Miles caused a turnover and found Peterson sprinting to the basket for a dunk, pulling Wesleyan to 33-25.
Off another UIndy turnover,
Logan McIntire brought the Greyhounds' lead down to five points with two minutes left. The Hounds would settle going into the locker-room with a 40-33 lead.
Both teams suffered from a drought on the perimeter, combing to go zero of 14 from three in the first 11 minutes of the half. The Panthers kept the game close, at one possession, for most of that span. The Hounds finally got a three-point basket to drop with nine minutes left in the game, building a 50-42 lead.
The Panthers had several chances at the beginning of the second half to tie or take the lead, but it looked like the Hounds were poised to make another run. A 43-40 lead turn into 54-42 lead in less than five minutes. Miles ended the run with a three-point bucket and Panthers again began to chip away at the Greyhounds.
The contest stood at 58-54 with 67 seconds left in the game after five straight points from McIntire. The Panthers were forced to foul, but
Kaeveon Mitchell knocked down a three with 20 seconds left that pushed the game to 60-57. After more free throws by the Hounds, McIntire missed from deep, but Kendrick Tchoua missed a pair form the line. Peterson knocked down another three with two seconds left in the game, but Indianapolis made two more free-throws to return a two-possession lead before the final horn.
Peterson came off the bench to play 17 minutes, score 13 points and grab six rebounds. McIntire added 12 points and four assists. Mitchell reached double figures as well, finishing with 10 points while
Borja Fernandez totaled 10 points and five rebounds.
The Panthers will host Miles College on Wednesday night. Tip-off at the Owensboro Sportscenter is scheduled for 7 PM.
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