CANTON, Ohio. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team was 1-9 against Walsh University in their last 10 minutes, with Walsh winning the last five. However, the Panthers changed script on Saturday with a 67-60 win over the defending Great Midwest Conference Champions.
Logan McIntire featured a career day for Wesleyan as he finished with 26 points.
Wesleyan improved to 5-2 on the year with a 2-0 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Prior to the game, Walsh received their Great Midwest Championship rings, but the Panthers looked to be the best team on the court on Saturday from the opening tip.
The Panthers opened the game on a 14-3 run. The Cavaliers, who were predicted to finish second in the G-MAC, used its three-point shooting to hang around throughout the opening half. After the Panthers' hot start, the Cavs (5-2, 1-2 GMAC) fought their back to even, 16-16 with 9:30 left in the half.
Borja Fernandez's lay-up in the final seconds of the half looked to give the Panthers a three-point lead, but another perimeter shot by Walsh tied the game at 28 the break. Wesleyan shot 44% in the opening half while
Logan McIntire led the team with seven points.
The Panthers opened the second half on a similar run that started the game. After a steal and fast break lay-up from
Kennedy Miles the Panthers built 37-28 lead less than four minutes into the half. Two minutes later, McInitre moved the Panthers' lead to eight points, then to 11 with back-to-back threes from the corner. McIntire was fouled on the second three and converted the free-throw to build a 46-31 lead with 14 minutes left.
Walsh answered with a lay-up, but McIntire kept his hot-hand as he converted another four-point play, giving the Panthers a 50-33 lead. The Panthers' was a big as 17 points and remained at double-digits until seven minutes left in the game when the Cavs got within eight after another three-point bucket, 59-51.
Another McInitre triple put the Panthers back on top by double-digits with five minutes left in the game, 62-51. As the game transitioned in the final four minutes the Panthers would continue to the run the shot clock down. Perhaps the final blow for Walsh came at the hand of
Alex Gray, who nailed a fade away jumper from the foul-line with seconds left on the shot clock.
Gray's jumper gave the Panthers a 67-57 lead with 1:50 left in the game. Walsh would fail to convert on their three-point attempts down the stretch while Wesleyan picked-up a G-MAC road win.
McIntire would finish with a career-high 26 points, 19 coming in the second half. He would convert on five of 10 from the perimeter.
Edward Jones Jr. would add 13 points and grab eight rebounds. Miles would record 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Gray would grab a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Panthers will travel to Painesville, Ohio on Monday to play Lake Erie College. Tip-off against the Storm is scheduled for 4:30PM CT.
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