OWENSBORO, KY – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball team started the 2025-26 season on a winning note Friday night. Wesleyan upended the University of Indianapolis 73-67 at the iconic Sportscenter. The victory marks the 200^th career win for Head Coach Drew Cooper, who started his eighth season at the helm of the Panthers. Cooper previously spent five seasons coaching at Thomas More, going 94-46. 
 
The Panthers, like most teams across the country, have a new roster in place this season with one starter returning from last season's 22-7 team. At the start, the Panthers made a concentrated effort to get the ball into the post. Fatih Huyuk showcased his skills by getting to the rim and finding shooters on the perimeter. 
 
Caleb Mackery's three-point play midway through the first half gave the Panthers a 20-15 lead. Ke'Andre Jones stepped-up in the final three minutes of the half, scoring seven points to give the Panthers their biggest lead of the half at 41-30. Two late free throws by the Greyhounds allowed Wesleyan to go into the break with a 41-32 lead. 
 
Huyuk's dunk at the start of the second half brought the Panthers lead to 46-34, but the Hounds chipped away. After Tyler Parrish's three-point basket the Wesleyan lead was down to four points, 57-53 with nine minutes left in the game. Armandas Plintauskas answered immediately with a three of his own on the next possession. Out of the media timeout, JJ Faulkner hit another three to get the Panthers lead back into double-figures. 
 
The Panthers allowed the Greyhounds to stay in the game down the stretch as their free throw shooting was subpar on the night. After starting four of 14 from the foul line, the Panthers finished seven of nine to end the game. The final stretch from the free-throw line allowed the Panthers to build back a three-possession lead. 
 
UIndy trailed 66-61 with three minutes left, but the Panthers pushed the lead to eight from the charity stripe. Huyuk finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Jones produced a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Plintauskas also finished with 18 points, aided by a four of 10 mark from the three-point line. The battle of the boards was clearly in the hands of the Panthers, outrebounding the Greyhounds 38-29. 
 
The Panthers will host No. 8 Missouri Science and Technology on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff at the SportsCenter is scheduled for 2PM. 
 
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