The Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team will look to bounce back from Thursday’s loss when the Panthers face Walsh in a conference matchup Saturday.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at Alumni Arena in North Canton, Ohio.
The Panthers’ last outing, an 85-67 setback at Lake Erie, snapped a 10-game winning streak. Wesleyan (10-3, 4-1 G-MAC) fell behind 47-21 at halftime after shooting only 22.2% from the field in the first 20 minutes, despite standout performances by forwards Eddy Jones Jr. and Terrence Ringo Jr.
Jones scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, while Ringo produced 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor with a game-high eight rebounds and two blocks. The rest of the team made only seven field goals combined.
The loss was KWC’s first conference defeat of the season — also its first league contest on the road this year. The Panthers will look to get back on the right track against Walsh (5-7, 1-5), less than a month after dispatching the Cavaliers 66-61 at the Sportscenter.
In the previous matchup, the Panthers rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit behind 16 points and seven assists from fifth-year point guard Kennedy Miles. KWC was limited to 27.6% shooting in the first half but regrouped after intermission to make 63.3% of its shots the rest of the way.
On the year, Wesleyan is scoring 78.2 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 36.6% from 3-point distance. The Panthers have been led by junior wing Logan McIntire (14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 52.2% from 3), junior guard Quentin Toles (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Miles (12.6 ppg, 5 apg), Jones (11.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and others.
Walsh will counter with a group led by sophomore wing Ayden Carter, who poured in 28 points against the Panthers earlier this month. The Cavaliers are scoring 72.7 points per game while shooting 42.2% from the field and 31.1% from long range, led by Carter (19.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), junior guard Kobe Mitchell (16.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and junior forward Zack Oddo (13.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg).
Walsh enters looking to snap a three-game losing skid, with the Cavaliers last playing in a 80-61 setback at Ashland on Thursday.
The game will follow the Kentucky Wesleyan women (6-5, 2-4 G-MAC) facing Walsh (8-7, 3-4) at noon.
After four straight losses in conference play, including a 74-69 loss to Walsh last week, the Panthers got back on track with an 85-55 win at Lake Erie on Thursday.
Both games will be available for viewing on the Great Midwest Digital Network.
