WHEELING – Following three straight games without a double-double, West Virginia Wesleyan senior forward Tanner McGrew was back to his old self after posting his Mountain East Conference leading 15th double-double with a 24-point, 12-rebound effort against the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals in a Mountain East Conference clash here Monday night.
McGrew's double-double was one of the few highlights for Wesleyan as they dropped a 96-71 decision.
Wesleyan never led in the contest.
Wheeling Jesuit jumped into a 12-2 lead after four minutes and Wesleyan was never able to recover.
Down 24-9, Wesleyan's Anthony Richards fired in consecutive three-pointers to close the gap to nine, at 24-15, with 9:37 left in the first half.
Wheeling Jesuit pushed their lead to 41-27 but McGrew made a lay-up and Chris Dewberry nailed a short jumper to bring Wesleyan to with 10, at 41-31, with 4:27 remaining in the half.
Wheeling Jesuit held that 10-point lead at the half, up by a 50-40 score.
The Cardinals opened the second half with a basket, but Ja'Sahn Johnson scored on a jumper, McGrew went inside for a lay-up, and after another Wheeling Jesuit basket, Garrett Grantham unleashed a three-pointer to bring Wesleyan to within seven, at 54-47.
Wesleyan wouldn't get any closer though as Wheeling Jesuit went on an 8-0 run to take a 62-47 advantage at the 15:09 mark.
Wheeling Jesuit would outscore Wesleyan the rest of the way by a 34-24 margin.
Grantham was the only other Bobcat to reach double digits as he scored 16 points.
Dewberry and Johnson each had eight points.
Wesleyan shot the ball at a 53.1 clip but Wheeling Jesuit was even better from the field shooting 56.9 percent.
Wesleyan outrebounded Wheeling Jesuit by a 28-26 margin.
The loss dropped Wesleyan to 11-16 overall and 9-12 in the MEC.
The Bobcats will wrap up their regular season this Saturday at Glenville State.
Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
