MARION, Ind. -- Despite a 26-8 run late in the second half the Indiana Wesleyan University men?s basketball team fell just short in a 61-58 loss to Huntington (Ind.) University on Wednesday evening in Luckey Arena.

The Wildcats (13-6, 2-4 MCC) trailed by 20 points with the Foresters leading 44-24 and 15:36 left in the contest. IWU trimmed the lead down to 15 points after a basket by sophomore guard Spencer Harris, as Indiana Wesleyan trailed 47-32 and 10:50 remaining. Harris ended the game with 11 points and three assists.

Then Indiana Wesleyan junior guard Antonio Murrell took over the game.

Over the next seven minutes of action Murrell ignited an Indiana Wesleyan 16-5 run which trimmed Huntington?s lead to two at 52-50 and 4:09 to play. Murrell scored 14 of the 16 Wildcats? points, including 12 straight. He finished the night with a game-high 25 points.

Huntington (14-6, 4-2 MCC) responded with a 3-pointer to go up 55-50. After the teams swapped baskets, IWU junior guard Jon Moon nailed a 3-pointer to cut the Forester lead to two points at 57-55 and 1:25 on the clock. Moon scored 12 points in the contest.

Once again Huntington answered with a field goal, putting the Foresters ahead 59-55. But Moon once again connected from deep to slice the Forester advantage to one point at 59-58 and 33 seconds to play.

Indiana Wesleyan was forced to foul. Huntington went to the free throw line for the one-and-one with 24 seconds left. Doug Sheckler, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists, missed the shot and the rebound went to Harris.

The Wildcats pushed the ball up the floor attempting to capture the lead. But a turnover forced another IWU foul with 10 seconds remaining. Kyle Benge drilled both shots to give Huntington a 61-58 advantage.

Indiana Wesleyan got a final shot to force overtime as Moon got an open look, but the shot missed the intended target and Huntington escaped with the victory.

After shooting 29.6-percent (8 for 27) in the first half, the Wildcats exploded in the second half and shot 57.1-percent (16 of 28).

Indiana Wesleyan will return to the court at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, as the Wildcats travel to play University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.