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Team huddle KWC
Matt Holmes

Men's Basketball Matt Holmes, Assistant A.D. for Media Relations

KWC holds off UIndy in top-five match-up

The Greyhounds huddle before tip-off against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Box Score   •  Box Score (HTML)

OWENSBORO, Ky. – In a match-up of two of NCAA Division II's four remaining unbeatens, host and fourth-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan held off No. 5 University of Indianapolis, 79-69, in front of 3,612 at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Thursday.

Reece Cheatham scored all 21 of his points in the second half to lead all players, while Tyrae Robinson added 18 points and career-high six assists for the Greyhounds (12-1, 4-1 GLVC).

The Panthers (13-0, 5-0 GLVC) had five players in double figures, led by Rico Ferguson and Dazmond Starke off the bench with 19 and 13 points, respectively.

Kentucky Wesleyan shot 61 percent (16-26) in the second half, while missing their only three-point attempt to finish the game shooting 54 percent (28-52). The Panthers were also able to convert at the free throw line as UIndy was forced to foul late by making 21-of-24. Kentucky Wesleyan also out-scored UIndy in the paint, 42-24.

UIndy hung around by making 10-of-24 three-pointers on the way to 41 percent (24-58) overall and hit 11-of-14 free throws.

The Greyhounds forced 18 turnovers, but committed 16 of their own that Kentucky Wesleyan turned into a 22-8 advantage.

After falling behind by 16, 55-39, with nine minutes remaining, the Greyhounds were able to fight back and pulled within six, 72-66, with 2:48 remaining after Robinson found Cheatham for a long three-pointer on the left wing. The Greyhounds' full court pressure forced a KWC travel on the next possession, but UIndy couldn't capitalize as they lost the ball and the Panthers converted a pair of free throws after a foul.

The Greyhounds wouldn't get any closer as they turned it over again on their next possession and KWC was able to defend its home court.

After KWC opened the scoring, the Greyhounds were able to tie the score five times, including at 14-all on a Hollowell three-pointer with 11:26 left in the half. The Panthers were able to hold UIndy scoreless for over five minutes as they went on a 13-3 run to build a double-digit lead, 27-17, with 4:30 remaining. Quinten Hunter's three-pointer from the right corner with five seconds left in the half kept the margin in single digits, 32-25, after the lowest scoring first half of the season for UIndy.

The Greyhounds couldn't get anything going on the interior as they were 4-of-17, but hung around making 5-of-11 triples. The Panthers shot 46 percent (12-26) and held a 9-0 edge in points off turnovers, despite committing one more (9-8) than the visitors.

UIndy continues the road trip on Saturday in Evansville, Ind., against No. 15 Southern Indiana (11-2, 4-1 GLVC) at 4:15 p.m. 

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