POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- No. 13-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University lost a thrilling 79-76 overtime decision to No. 16-ranked Warner Pacific (Ore.) College today in the NAIA DII Men's Basketball National Championship First Round in Point Lookout, Missouri.

Indiana Wesleyan overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to force the overtime period. Despite not allowing a field goal in the extra session Warner Pacific outscored Indiana Wesleyan 8-5.

The Wildcats nearly erased a late first half deficit of 10 points. The Knights rarely missed from deep in the opening half and built a 36-26 advantage with 3:15 remaining before the break. But the Wildcats hit five free throws in the final three minutes and junior forward Patrick Hopkins cleaned up a missed shot for a basket with five seconds left to suddenly bring IWU to within three (36-33) at the half.

The story of the first half was the Warner Pacific outside shooting. WPC connected on 8-of-12 (66.7-percent) from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

""They came out on fire. They are a team that can really come out and shoot," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Greg Tonagel. "To withstand that rally and be down just three, I was really pleased with that. I was excited because we were in good position."

Warner Pacific exploded out of the second half gate on a 12-2 run to reclaim a double digit lead at 48-35 just three minutes in. The 13 point lead was the largest of the game.

Three free throws by sophomore guard Jordan Weidner cut the deficit to 54-51 with 11:03 left. It was the first of five scoring possessions for Indiana Wesleyan that would bring the game to a single possession over the next five minutes.

Finally, with 5:13 remaining in the second half a Weidner layup tied the score 60-60 for the first tie or lead for the Wildcats since 9-9 just four minutes into the contest.

The final five minutes never saw the lead grow to more than three for either team. Indiana Wesleyan trimmed the score to one at 69-68 on a Hopkins basket down low with 50 seconds to go. But Warner Pacific would reclaim a three point lead on a driving basket with 24 seconds left.

Hopkins missed a two point attempt with 11 seconds left but the Wildcats maintained possession as the ball went out of bounds off the Knights. On the second chance senior guard Derrick Troyer drilled a 3 from the top of the key to tie the score at 71-71 with six seconds remaining.

"It was a big 3 by Derrick," stated Tonagel. "What a shot for a senior to make."

Warner Pacific drove right down the court and hit what looked like the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds remaining. But the shot was immediately called off for a charge. Weidner was able to take a final shot from half court but was nowhere close on the heave.

Indiana Wesleyan earned chances early in the overtime frame. Troyer missed a pair of free throw attempts and Weidner hit just one of three as IWU was just 1-of-5 from the line in the opening two minutes of overtime.

Trailing by one, Troyer went to the line with 47 seconds left and hit two free throws for a 74-73 advantage. But eight seconds later Indiana Wesleyan fouled to send Warner Pacific to the line where they hit both shot for a 75-74 lead.

Indiana Wesleyan brought the ball down and freshman guard Zac Vandewater turned it over. IWU was forced to foul and WPC again hit both free throws for the 77-74 advantage. Weidner attempted a 3 for the tie with eight seconds left but drew only iron as Warner Pacific took the rebound and was sent back to the line. Andrey Orlov hit both freebies to ice the win and sent the Knights into the Second Round.

"I thought we fought and fought," said Tonagel. "We just got hurt at the free throw line. It's the same story all year long, if we hit our free throws and don't turn it over we win. We had opportunities. We missed the first four free throws to start overtime. If we hit those free throws and don't turn it over we put ourselves in a really good position."

Weidner finished with a game-high 27 points and was 11-of-14 from the foul line. Hopkins added a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds while Troyer was the third and final Wildcat in double digits with 16 points, seven boards, and seven assists.

Indiana Wesleyan shot 37.5-percent (24 of 64) from the floor and 22.7-percent (5 of 22) from beyond the arc. IWU shot well from the foul line most of the game until the overtime period where they finished at 67.6-percent (23 of 34) for the afternoon.

"To win at this level and to win at this tournament you need to play sound basketball," added Tonagel. "We did that for stretches today but could never string them together for long stretches."

The difference in the game was Warner Pacific's shooting form the arc and from the foul line. WPC hit 10-of-20 (50.0-percent) from deep while hitting a near perfect 13-of-14 (92.9-percent) from the foul stripe.

Warner Pacific leads the nation in steals (11.4) and turnover margin. Indiana Wesleyan did handle the pressure of the trapping zone defense  well on Wednesday as Warner Pacific managed just seven steals while IWU turned the ball over just 11 times, compared to 12 for WPC.

"They could make a run with the style they play," continued Tonagel. "They stretch you out and make you take outside shots. We settled for 22 3-point shots and we're not a really good 3-point shooting team so we played right into their hands."

The First Round loss was the first in program history for Indiana Wesleyan. The previous five trips to the National Tournament, all under Tonagel, have finished in the NAIA Elite Eight.

Indiana Wesleyan finishes the season at 21-12. IWU won its fourth straight Mid-Central College Conference regular season championship, earned the program's first ever NAIA No. 1-ranking, and finished with the program's sixth trip to the nationals in seven seasons.