NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- Two top NAIA programs did battle Wednesday night in New Albany, Indiana as IU Southeast defeated Indiana Wesleyan 93-81.

Indiana Wesleyan is ranked No. 2 in NAIA Division II and stumbles to 5-1 on the season. IU Southeast is 4-1 but is unranked due to the conference rater missing a deadline. It is believed that IU Southeast would have been a top-three team. IUSE advanced to the NAIA national semifinals last year and returned everybody from that team.

The Wildcats struggled early with foul issues. Senior forward RJ Mahurin picked up a quick two in the first three minutes and he returned midway through the half. He added a third with nine minutes remaining in the half. Senior guard Jordan Weidner collected two fouls in the opening half and had to sit before halftime.

The first 10 minutes featured two ties and seven lead changes but from there until halftime the Grenadiers took over. With the Wildcats leading 17-16 the Grenadiers went on a 29-15 run to take a 45-32 lead. DJ Bettinger scored the final three points of the half to bring the Wildcats within 10 at halftime, 45-35.

Indiana Wesleyan scored nine of the first 11 points of the second half to quickly draw within a single possession at 47-44. The teams traded buckets the next four possessions and then IU Southeast scored eight straight points for a 59-48 advantage. IWU closed to within six points on a few occasions with the latest coming at 63-57 and 12:34 remaining.

The Wildcats would not score a field goal for five minutes which the Grenadier used for an 11-1 run to lead 74-58. The Grenadiers led by as many as 17 points on two different occasions before winning by the final outcome of 93-81.

Jordan Weidner led Indiana Wesleyan with 22 points and despite the foul trouble Mahurin ended with 16 points in 21 minutes. Nate Bubash was the third Wildcat in double figures with a career-high 11 points on a prefect 5-of-5 shooting. Zac Vandewater nearly registered a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds while Bettinger finished with eight points, four rebounds, and five assists.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to action at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 19 with a road game at Judson (Ill.) in Elgin, Illinois.