MARION, Ind. -- Being able to get to the free throw line led the No. 9-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team to their 13th consecutive win with a 65-55 victory over Grant County rival Taylor (Ind.) University on 'Red Out' night in Luckey Arena.

The Wildcats earned 30 trips to the foul line compare to just 11 for the Trojans as IWU outscored Taylor 23-to-8 from the free throw line.

While both teams connected on free throws in the 70-percent range, each team struggled from the field. Taylor shot 41.5-percent (22 of 53) while Indiana Wesleyan finished at 40.4-percent (19 of 47).

The first two and a half minutes of the game was completely different as Indiana Wesleyan scored on their first four possessions to jet out to a 9-2 lead. Senior guard Ryan Hetrick scored five of his 12 points during the stretch.

Taylor (11-11, 2-6 MCC) responded in the form of a 15-2 run during the next six minutes of action to collect a 17-11 advantage nearly midway through the first half. Four Trojans scored in that span, led by freshman guard Tommy Peller with two 3-point buckets. He ended the night with 12 points and five rebounds.

With a first half that featured three runs to start the game and ending with less than four minutes in the half, the Wildcats would score 22 of the next 25 points. The run lasted over seven minutes and saw a six point Taylor lead evaporate into a 13 point cushion for Indiana Wesleyan. When the dust had settled, IWU held a 33-20 advantage.

IWU junior forward Will Hubertz was the main culprit during the Wildcat streak. He scored 11 of his 15 points during the 22-3 run, including three 3-point baskets.

The teams traded buckets the rest of the half until Taylor freshman forward Nate Kasper completed scoring in the first half with one free throw. At the half, Indiana Wesleyan led 37-25.

Wildcat senior center Zach Coverstone scored in the paint during the first minute of the second half to extend the IWU lead to 14 points (39-25), the largest of the game for either team. But the Wildcats struggled to find points over the next nine minutes which allowed the Trojans back into the game. Kasper scored six straight points to bring the score to 44-39 in favor of IWU with 10:42 to play.

Indiana Wesleyan (18-3, 7-1 MCC) answered with six consecutive points to reassert their lead back to double digits. But with 4:02 left in the game Taylor junior guard Drew Tower hit a pair of free throws to bring the score to 53-47.

The score remained between six and eight points over the next two and a half minutes until IWU sophomore guard Derrick Troyer drained two free throws for a 10 point Wildcat lead (61-51) as 1:30 showed on the clock.

Indiana Wesleyan held off Taylor with four free throws in the final minute for the 65-55 victory.

Coverstone recorded a double-double in his third straight contest with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for IWU. Troyer added six points, four steals and three assists while senior guard Spencer Harris chipped in six points, five boards and three helpers.

Kasper led all players with 21 points and he added eight rebounds for TU. Freshman guard Casey Coons, who leads Taylor with 15.8 points per game, was held to just seven points.

The Mid-Central College Conference is now halfway through the schedule. The Wildcats will open the second set of conference games with a one game lead on the field.

Indiana Wesleyan will return to the road their next time out as the Wildcats will play at Goshen (Ind.) College on Saturday, January 23. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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