OWENSBORO, Ky. – The IU Southeast men's basketball team fought but ultimately fell to NCAA DII Kentucky Wesleyan 77-68 on Friday.
 
The game was back-and-forth to start as the teams were tied at 13-13 halfway through the first half. Kentucky Wesleyan then used an 11-0 run to take a 24-13 lead.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan led by as many as 14 in the first half and led 35-25 at the half.
 
With Kentucky Wesleyan ahead 44-32 in the second half, IU Southeast used a 12-2 run to cut the Panther lead to 46-44. IU Southeast then cut the KWC lead to one at 47-46 with 11:12 left.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan, leading 55-53, used a 5-0 run to extend their advantage to 60-53. IU Southeast was able to make it a three-point game at 60-57, but a quick six-point burst put the Panthers ahead 66-57 with 2:10 remaining.
 
IU Southeast never got within five points for the remainder of the game as Kentucky Wesleyan hung on to a 77-68 victory.
 
IU Southeast was led by Trent Hinkle with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Jaden Johnson was the only other Grenadiers in double figures, putting up 15 points and five rebounds. Nathaniel Hoffman had eight points, and Camden Pfeister added six points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
"Tough loss," IU Southeast head coach Wiley Brown said. "We had our chances and couldn't capitalize on it. I'm so proud of my team. They battled. Little disappointed that we didn't rebound like normal, but KWC had something to do with that. Back to the lab."
 
IU Southeast falls to 9-4 on the season. The Grenadiers return to action on Jan. 3 at Oakland City.