BUCKHANNON – The West Virginia Wesleyan men's basketball team dropped a 78-61 verdict to the Shepherd Rams tonight in a Mountain East Conference contest at Rockefeller Center.

Wesleyan was never able to slow down the Shepherd offense as the Rams shot 58.7 percent from the floor (27-for-46), 63.6 percent from the three-point stripe (7-for-11) and a perfect 17-for-17 from the line.

Fred Brondsted nailed a three-pointer for Wesleyan to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead with a minute gone. It was the only lead the Bobcats would enjoy.

Shepherd went on a 13-2 run to take a 15-5 lead with 11:22 remaining in the first half.

A Kevin Kangni three-pointer brought Wesleyan to within five, at 20-15, but Shepherd scored the next six points to take a 26-15 with 4:54 left in the first half.

Wesleyan trailed by 10 at the half, 33-23.

Shepherd scored a lay-up to make it a 35-23 game to begin the second half, but Luka Petrovic made consecutive baskets, Clay Todd unleashed a three-pointer and Kameron Hedgepeth (pictured) scored on a short jumper to cap a 9-0 run and close the gap to 35-32 with 17:32 remaining in the second half.

Wesleyan couldn't get any closer as Shepherd went on an 11-4 run to grab a 46-36 lead.

Shepherd built their biggest lead of the game of 25 points, at 78-53, with 2:03 left in the contest.

Wesleyan scored the last eight points of the game.

The Bobcats shot 43.6 from the floor (24-for-55) and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (6-for-7).

Shepherd outrebounded Wesleyan by a 32-19 margin.

Mo Berchie scored 13 points to lead Wesleyan while Petrovic scored 11.

Luke Layhew had a team-high seven rebounds.

Wesleyan is now 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the MEC.

They will return to action Wednesday when they entertain the Salem International Tigers in a non-conference contest.

The game will start at 7 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

(Photo courtesy of Brian Bergstrom/The Record Delta)