VALPARAISO, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University men?s basketball team struggled in the second half as NCAA Division I Valparaiso (Ind.) University turned a four-point halftime lead into a 93-46 victory on Wednesday night in an exhibition contest.

Indiana Wesleyan (11-4) trailed by four points at intermission as Valparaiso led 35-31. But the Crusaders showed their depth in the second half to cruise to an easy victory.

Valparaiso (11-3) attempted to put Indiana Wesleyan away early as the Crusaders charged to an 11-4 lead. But the Wildcats responded quickly to knot the score at 17-17 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

The Wildcats never trailed by more than four points over the next nine minutes of action until Valparaiso earned a six point lead of 31-25 with 2:41 to go. Indiana Wesleyan scored the next four points to cut the deficit to 31-29 with just over a minute to play. But two free throws followed by a steal and a layup, all in six seconds, quickly upped the Crusader lead to six at 35-29.

Sophomore Zach Coverstone ended the first half with a basket to bring the Wildcats within four at the break as Valparaiso led 35-31. Junior guard Antonio Murrell tallied 15 points to keep the Wildcats close in the opening period.

The Crusaders? depth proved too much for the Wildcats in the second half as Valparaiso opened the half with a 13-0 run which ultimately led to a 39-6 run. Indiana Wesleyan never recovered as the Wildcats fell in the exhibition contest.

Valparaiso shot a blistering 61.5-percent (32 of 52) from the floor and out-rebounded IWU 39-20. The Wildcats finished the night shooting 29.8-percent (17 of 57).

Coverstone and Murrell each earned 15 points to lead the Wildcats. Coverstone also grabbed a team best seven rebounds.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to Mid-Central College Conference action as the Wildcats host Grace (Ind.) College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 5 in Luckey Arena.