OWENSBORO, Ky. – Quarterback Dalton Oliver threw for 510 yards and five touchdowns on 37-of-51 passing to key a 603-yard day for the Kentucky Wesleyan offense and lead the Panthers to a 39-31 victory over the UNC Pembroke football team on Saturday afternoon at Steele Stadium.

The setback marked the third-straight road loss for the Braves (5-4) who fell to 1-4 away from Pembroke this season. It was the third-straight victory for Kentucky Wesleyan (4-4) who stayed perfect in three home appearances in 2015 as well.

Patrick O'Brien threw for 317 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 23-of-38 passing, but also rushed for 14 yards and two additional scores on the day as well. B.J. Bunn hauled in eight passes for 133 yards and one touchdown, while Rontonio Stanley rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries for the visitors as well.

Keelan Cole caught 11 passes for 224 yards and two scores to pace the KWC receiving corps, which also got a 7-catch, 108-yard day from Travion Tucker.

The Braves amassed 261 offensive yards in the first half, but could only muster a 17-16 lead at the break due to a costly turnover that shifted the momentum on what looked to be a promising 9-play, 70-yard drive that stalled at the 1-yard line when Stanley coughed up the football after a 19-yard run. KWC forged a 16-10 lead on Oliver's 16-yard scoring pass to Cole with 3:07 left in the first half, but UNCP regained the advantage on O'Brien's 63-yard touchdown pass to Bunn just less than two minutes later.

Oliver found Xavier Mitchell on two short scoring passes in the third period to help the Panthers stake claim to a 29-17 lead, but the Braves cut into their deficit with just less than seven minutes left to play on O'Brien's 29-yard pass to John Rich that capped a 4-play, 88-yard scoring drive. The Panthers, again, went up by two scored on Oliver's 30-yard pass to Tucker at the 4:36 mark, but the Black & Gold answered again – this time with a 6-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that milked just 81 seconds off the clock.

The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the hosts, however.

The Braves will close out their 2015 regular season schedule on Saturday when they return home to take on Limestone (2-7) in a 2 p.m. Senior Day contest at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff will be preceded by a special ceremony that will pay tribute to UNCP's 11-member senior class.