Owensboro, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan men's basketball team fell 72-62 to Malone in the G-MAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon.
Malone now heads to the G-MAC Semifinals, where the Pioneers will take on the winner of Ashland at Hillsdale tonight.
For the second consecutive season, the Panthers started slow and could not recover. Malone scored 10 of the first 12 points, leading 10-2 headed into the under-16 media timeout.
Wesleyan fought to within two at 16-14 after a Kennedy Miles three-pointer, but the Pioneers continued to hold the home team off with timely shots. Malone managed to build their lead back to eight by halftime, heading into the locker room with a 34-26 advantage.
The Pioneers led by as much as 11 early in the second half, but the Panthers began to slowly climb back into the game. After Malone took a 47-37 lead with just over 13 minutes t play, Wesleyan reeled off a 12-2 run, highlighted by eight straight Quentin Toles points and a Terrence Ringo Jr. slam, to tie the game at 49-49.
Malone responded with a 13-4 run to take control back at 62-53 with just over three minutes remaining. The Pioneers seemed to hit every timely shot they needed, including a three-pointer to cap off that stretch and effectively put the game away.
Malone iced the game with free throws, punching their ticket to the semifinal round of the G-MAC Tournament with the 72-62 victory.
Wesleyan was once again led by Toles' 22 points in the contest. Edward Jones Jr. finished with 15 points and five rebounds, Ringo Jr. put up 11 points and four rebounds, and Miles had 10 points and six assists in his final game at the Sportscenter.
The Panthers will not await their fate in the selection show this Sunday, March 9 at 10 PM. The show will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
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