CHESAPEAKE — They’re the preseason favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference.

Tuesday night they didn’t do anything to change anyone’s opinion.

The Chesapeake Panthers used a dominating defense to build a huge first half lead and coast past the Rock Hill Redmen 72-29 in the OVC opener for both teams.

Chesapeake’s defense held Rock Hill to just 6 points in the first half including one field goal.

“We played well the first half. We lost our intensity in the second half. We have to become more disciplined mentally. We can’t afford to have those kind of letdowns in the future,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Colin Kennedy scored 20 points and Nathan Copley 19 to lead Chesapeake (2-2). Austin McMaster added 16 points.

Jeremy Blagg had 17 points for Rock Hill (2-2).

Copley scored 9 points as Chesapeake grabbed a 17-3 first quarter lead.

The Panthers outscored the Redmen 21-3 in the second quarter to build a 38-6 halftime cushion.

McMaster drained a pair of 3-pointers as he and Trent Saunders scored 8 points each. Kennedy added 6 points.

Kennedy came out and scored 14 points in third quarter as the Panthers extended their lead to 54-17.

Colton Lindsey had all 4 of his points in the fourth quarter as Davis emptied his bench.

Rock Hill 3 3 11 12 = 29

Chesapeake 17 21 16 18 = 72

ROCK HILL (2-2, 0-1): Jonathan Schwab 0 0 0-0 0, Jeremy Blagg 3 1 8-8 17, Will McCollister 1 0 1-2 3, Devin Darby 0 0 0-0 0, Trey Wilds 0 0 0-0 0, Mitchell Patterson 1 0 0-0 2, Chris Lemaster 0 0 0-2 0, Andy Knipp 0 0 0-2 0, Sam Cooke 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 7 1 12-20 29. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Cooke. Turnovers: 31.

CHESAPEAKE (2-2, 1-0): Gunner Hill 1 0 0-0 2, Peter Hintz 0 0 0-0 0, Nathan Copley 7 1 2-2 19, Patrick Hintz 1 0 1-2 3, Colton Lindsey 2 0 0-0 4, Austin McMaster 5 2 0-0 16, Trent Saunders 3 0 2-2 8, Colin Kennedy 10 0 0-1 20, Seth Ransbottom 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Noble 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 29 3 5-7 72. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.