The Middlebury men's basketball team capped its NESCAC weekend opener with an 86-62 loss to Wesleyan in Pepin Gymnasium on Saturday. The contest was the 75th meeting between the programs.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Cardinals got out to a quick start, taking a commanding 28-5 lead on a jumper from Zach Wolinski with 11:02 left in the first half.
• The Panthers manufactured an 11-5 spurt with four points coming from Ian Murray to help cut the deficit to 33-16 at the 6:23 mark.
• Wesleyan did not go away, maintaining its big lead with a 47-25 score at the break.
• Trailing 57-35 with 14:44 remaining in the second stanza, the Panthers tallied a 10-4 run, capped by a three-pointer from Kuba Cwalina, to make it 61-45.
• With just under 10 minutes to go, Cwalina's tip-in closed the gap to 16 (65-49), but it was not enough.
• Wesleyan closed the contest with an 11-6 run to secure the 86-62 triumph.

NOTES

• Cwalina has tallied double figures in 10 of 12 games this season, posting 14 against the Cardinals. 
• Murray and Edward Witherington also hit double figures with 14 and 12, respectively.

The Panthers hit the road next weekend, traveling to Connecticut College on Friday for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.