FAIRMONT -- The West Virginia Wesleyan men's basketball team dropped their season opener against West Chester by a 73-54 score in the Joe Retton Classic at Fairmont State University.

A Chris Dewberry three-pointer gave Wesleyan a quick 5-2 lead, but it was all downhill for the Bobcats after that.

West Chester scored the next 12 points of the game to take a 14-5 lead and never looked back.

A pair of Tanner McGrew free throws for Wesleyan cut the lead down to seven at 16-9, but West Chester rattled off the next 10 points to take  a commanding 26-9 lead.

Wesleyan went into the half trailing by 17 at 39-22.

West Chester had their biggest lead at 71-42 with 5:05 remaining in the game.

Wesleyan closed the game on a 12-2 run to make the final score a little more respectable.

The Bobcats had two players reach double digits in scoring -- Dewberry (14) and Anthony Richards (12).

Aleksandar Djordjevic led Wesleyan in rebounding (4) and in assists (5).

Wesleyan shot the ball at a 42.6 clip making good on 20 of their 47 attempts

West Chester held a 33-22 rebounding margin.

The Bobcats (0-1) will return to Fairmont Saturday as they play Mercyhurst at 6 p.m.

Mercyhurst lost a 72-53 decision to host Fairmont State in the second game of Saturday's action.