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MIDDLETOWN, Conn.   - Undefeated and top-ranked Division III Middlebury pulled away to the game's largest lead of nine points, 60-51, with 3:52 to play and withstood a Wesleyan rally in the closing moments to come away with a 65-62 decision here today, improving the Panthers to 14-0 overall, 4-0 in NESCAC play.  Wesleyan fell to 12-4 on the season, 2-2 in league play.

Holding a tenuous 48-47 advantage with 12:39 on the clock, Middlebury got a three –pointer from junior Nolan Thompson, followed by a bucket from freshman Dylan Sinnickson to extend its lead to 53-47 with 9:27 left.  When sophomore Joey Kizel canned a trey at the 6:25 mark, Middlebury led 56-49.  But after a sophomore James Jensen free throw made it 60-51 for the visitors at 3:52, Wesleyan scored on six consecutive possessions with junior Derick Beresford accounting for six points.  When junior Mike Callaghan scored on a layup off the sixth assist of the contest by junior Shasha Brown with :16 to go, Wesleyan trimmed the margin to a lone point, 63-62.  Kizel was fouled with :08.1 to go and calmly sank a pair at the line to bump the margin back to three, 65-62.  Looking for a three-pointer to tie, Wesleyan never got the chance as Middlebury took a smart foul with :03.4 to go.  Brown missed the first attempt, then purposely missed the second, but senior Ryan Sharry grabbed his game-high 11th rebound for Middlebury and tossed the ball the length of the floor to kill the remaining seconds.

Neither team led by more than four points during a nip-and-tuck first half which ended in Wesleyan's favor, 34-33.  The Cardinals pulled out to their largest lead of the game early in the second period, 42-38, before Middlebury took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Kizel to break a 43-43 deadlock at the 15:40 mark, putting the Panthers ahead, 46-43.

Kizel led his squad with 16 points while Sharry added 14 and Jensen chipped in with 13.  Junior Jake Wolfin paced the Panthers with five assists.  Callaghan led all scorers with 18 and had a team-high five rebounds.  Brown and Beresford each had a dozen points for the Cardinals.

Both teams shot well from the field as Middlebury canned 55 percent while Wesleyan hit 51 percent.  Wesleyan faltered at the line, however, making just 5-of-13 while Midldebury was good for 14-of-20, the difference in the game.

Middlebury puts its winning streak and top-ranked status on the line again Tues., Jan. 17, hosting Castleton St. in a non-conference affair.  Wesleyan also returns to action Tuesday, taking on Little Three rival Amherst, also a member of the NESCAC, in a game that does not factor into the NESCAC standings.