HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- It took a well-played second half for No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball to escape with an 86-76 victory at Huntington (Ind.) University on Wednesday night in Crossroads League action.

Trailing by four at halftime, Indiana Wesleyan used a solid defensive effort to wear down Huntington and outscore the host 47-33 in the final 20 minutes. Huntington had led 43-39 after one half of play.

The Wildcats shot 53.6-percent (15 of 28) from the field during the second half. IWU was also strong at the line in the final stanza as they hit at a 92.3-percent (12 of 13) clip from the free throw line.

Indiana Wesleyan (15-1, 4-0 CL) obtained great nights by junior guard Jordan Weidner and senior forward Patrick Hopkins to earn the road victory. Weidner and Hopkins combined for 52 of the 86 points for Indiana Wesleyan as Weidner scored 28 and Hopkins finished with 24.

Senior guard George Jones IV sparked the potent Indiana Wesleyan bench on Wednesday with 10 points and a robust defensive effort. The Indiana Wesleyan bench finished with 15 points while their Huntington counterpart only managed five points.

The Wildcats won the turnover margin and the battle of the boards. IWU outrebounded HU 29-27 for the evening while committing 13 turnovers and forcing 18 Forester mistakes.

Indiana Wesleyan has now won 11 straight contests, dating back to their only loss of the season which came at Cornerstone (Mich.) University on November 10. Huntington (10-6, 1-3 CL) sees their six game win streak snapped which featured a win at Cornerstone.

The Wildcats return to Luckey Arena for their next contest at 3 p.m. on Saturday versus Spring Arbor (Mich.) University.