MARION, Ind. -- Goshen (Ind.) College outscored the Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team by 18 points in the second half to steal a 68-58 victory on Tuesday night in the Mid-Central College Conference opener for both teams in Luckey Arena.

No. 9-ranked Indiana Wesleyan erased an 11 point deficit early in the first half to lead by seven at halftime. But Goshen pulled away late in a tight second half to escape Luckey Arena with the win.

Goshen (6-2, 1-0 MCC) took control from the opening tip-off and scored the first eight points of the game in just over one minute of play. Goshen stretched their lead to a 15-4 advantage after five minutes as their full court press caused havoc for Indiana Wesleyan.

But the Wildcats regrouped and used a wide array of weapons to climb back into the contest. Over the next seven minutes IWU regained the lead at 23-22 when seven different Wildcats scored in the 19-7 run. The last four points during that stretch came from senior forward Josh Williams with his final bucket bringing the Wildcats their first lead at 23-22 and under seven minutes in the opening stanza. Williams ended the night with eight points and five boards.

Indiana Wesleyan (5-3, 0-1 MCC) stretched their hot streak to a 31-10 run into the final two minutes of the half to hold a 35-25 lead. In a span of two minutes, IWU senior center Zach Coverstone scored four straight field goals for eight straight points in the contest. Goshen completed the half with a bucket to make the halftime score 35-27 in favor of IWU.

By halftime, Coverstone had already collected his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Maple Leafs once again opened the half on a terror as GC recorded eight of the first 10 points in the stanza to cut the Wildcat advantage to two points at 37-35. Shortly thereafter the Maple Leafs regained the lead at 44-43 with 14:44 left in the game.

An Indiana Wesleyan cold streak ensued as IWU was held scoreless for nearly six minutes. Fortunately for Indiana Wesleyan, Goshen could not muster many points and tallied just three to hold a 49-45 advantage with less than half of the second period to go.

Coverstone once again took control for Indiana Wesleyan as he scored seven points in a three minute strand to give IWU the lead at 52-51 with 6:07 to go.

IWU freshman George Jones IV hit a basket with under five minutes to play to break another tie at 56-54. But the Wildcats went cold and would not score until 32 seconds remained in the game. During that span Goshen added eight straight points to lead 62-56. Six free throws in the final 24 seconds iced the game for GC.

Coverstone led the Wildcats with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Senior guard Ryan Hetrick and senior guard Spencer Harris each contributed 10 points.

Goshen was led by senior guard Errick McCollum with a game-high 22 points.

Following a 53.3-percent (16 of 3) shooting performance in the first half, Indiana Wesleyan slumped to a 32.1-percent (9 of 28) in the second half to end at 43.1-percent (25 of 58). IWU outrebounded Goshen 40-30 on the evening, but Indiana Wesleyan committed 22 turnovers in the defeat.

Indiana Wesleyan will next play No. 3-ranked Bethel (Ind.) College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1 at Luckey Arena.

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