Men's basketball defeats Olivet in opening game at Nebraska Wesleyan

Men's basketball defeats Olivet in opening game at Nebraska Wesleyan

LINCOLN, Neb. - The men's basketball team led from start to finish as they defeated Olivet, the 2018 MIAA regular season co-champion, 136-127 on Friday night.  The Panthers featured a scoring attack that saw eight players reach double figures in the victory.

Greenville scored the first six points of the game and opened up a 10-1 lead in the games first three and a half minutes.  They ended the first half with a 70-57 scoring advantage.  The Panthers led by as many as 19 (65-46) with 3:05 to go in the first half.

Eric Williams finished as Greenville's leading scorer with 20 points in the game.  Kieshaun Young-Jones posted an 18 point, seven rebound outing.

Anthony Zataray provided a career-best 16 points, and two players - Swade Edwards and Johari Dix - added 15 points.

Greenville's group of double-figure scorers also included Adam Warren with 12 points and Rakim Murphy with 11 points.

Josias Parker did a little bit of everything by posting a line of eight points, seven assists, and four steals.

Greenville's pressure resulted in 30 Olivet turnovers, and the Panthers collected 17 steals.

GU shot 45 percent from the field (45-of-99), nearly 37 percent (18-of-49) from three-point territory, and better than 73 percent at the free throw line (28-of-38).

The Panthers (2-3) play Redlands on Saturday in their final road game before their SLIAC opener next week.