EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - Tim Bauersachs made it record-setting night as 25th-ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 68-56 on Thursday in Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball action at the Vadalabene Center.
         Bauersachs recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The senior also set the record for games played in a career at SIUE with 107. Amazingly, Bauersachs started all 107 of those games in his four-year stint with the Cougars.
         SIUE improves to 20-6 overall and 13-4 in the GLVC. The Cougars reach the 20-win mark for the first time in 15 years. SIUE went 21-8 during the 1989-90 season. Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 15-10 overall and 9-9 in league play.
         The two teams battled back and forth in the first half with the Panthers gaining 24-21 lead on a three-pointer by Tyson Martin with 7:59 to go in the first half. SIUE would then go on a 27-5 run over the next 12:25 as its lead ballooned to 48-29.
         Kentucky Wesleyan cut into the Cougars lead several times but was never able to overcome SIUE shooting 48.9 percent from the field.
         Freshman J.B. Jones led all scorers with 17 points adding five assists and six rebounds. Justin Ward came off the bench to net 12 points, and Dan Heimos recorded six points, six rebounds, and six blocks.
         Franklyn Ferguson led the Panthers with 15 points, Tyson Martin chipped in 12, and Antonio Bright added 11. The Cougars held Kentucky Wesleyan to 33 percent (18-58) from the field in the contest.
         The Cougars outrebounded Kentucky Wesleyan 35-34.
         SIUE's win marks the most conference wins in a season. The previous best was 12 during the 1997-98 season. The Cougars sweep the season series with Panthers for the first time since the 1988-89 season. That season was the last time the Cougars earned a bid to the NCAA tournament.
         The Cougars will be back at home on Saturday for Senior Day against Bellarmine at the Vadalabene Center. Tip off is set for 3 p.m.
                  -siue cougars-