UPLAND, Ind. -- Taylor (Ind.) University's upset bid fell short at the buzzer as the Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team escaped with a 52-50 victory on Tuesday evening in Upland, Indiana.

IWU senior guard Antonio Murrell missed a front end of a bonus free throw with the Wildcats up two and 17 seconds left on the clock. Taylor worked the ball and launched a game-winning 3-point attempt as time expired but the shot was off line, sealing the win for Indiana Wesleyan.

Despite the missed free throw, Murrell ignited the No. 9-ranked Wildcats in the second half. He scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the period to lead all scorers. Murrell grabbed six boards and dished out a game-best four assists. The Indianapolis, Indiana native was the lone Wildcat to score in double figures.

"We tried to get the ball inside the whole first half and struggled," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Greg Tonagel. "We got Tone the ball in the second half and gave his some space where he is best at."

Senior guard Jon Moon and sophomore forward Will Hubertz added eight points in the win and junior forward Zach Coverstone pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

Taylor (8-14, 1-7 MCC) took a 30-28 lead into halftime and led 38-34 midway through the second half. But a 16-1 run ignited Indiana Wesleyan to a 50-39 advantage with over seven minutes to play.

But the Wildcat offense went ice cold over the final seven minutes of action which allowed the Trojans back in the contest.

IWU led 52-41 with 4:36 remaining before Taylor closed the gap to 52-47 and 3:47 left to play. Neither team scored for over three minutes until a Taylor 3-pointer with 34 seconds left made it a 52-50 Wildcat advantage, leading to the missed shot at the buzzer.

Indiana Wesleyan (18-4, 6-2 MCC) will return to action at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 as the Wildcats host Goshen (Ind.) College in Luckey Arena.