CINCINNATI, Ohio -- No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball used one of the best first halves in program history to quickly dispatch No. 19 Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) 101-77 on Tuesday night in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Indiana Wesleyan built a massive 65-28 advantage by halftime as the Wildcats shot 69.4-percent (25 of 36) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Indiana Wesleyan was even better from 3-point range at 90.9-percent on 10-of-11 shooting.

“This was the best first half since I have been here,” said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Greg Tonagel.

The Wildcats finished the evening shooting 58.8-percent (40 of 68) for the game and 73.7-percent (14 of 19) from 3-point range. IWU earned 23 assists while committing just 10 turnovers, with only two turnovers in the opening half.

DJ Bettinger (SR/Richfield, Ohio), Zac Vandewater (SR/Warsaw, Ind.), and Bob Peters (SO/Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) all scored 17 points tonight as they paced the Indiana Wesleyan offensive attack. Bettinger and Vandewater each connected on five 3-pointers. Lane Mahurin (SO/Rockville, Ind.) finished with 14 points and a team-leading eight rebounds while Jacob Johnson (FR/Mooresville, Ind.) was the fifth Wildcat in double digits with 13 points.

Jonny Marlin (JR/Greenwood, Ind.), the reigning Crossroads League Player of the Week, led the offense tonight as he dished out 11 assists.

Indiana Wesleyan improves to 6-0 this season while Cincinnati Christian loses for the first time and is now 5-1. IWU has now won two games vs. ranked team in four days as they defeated No. 11 Cornerstone (Mich.) 83-78 on Saturday. The last three Indiana Wesleyan games have been against teams ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Poll.

 IWU continues that stretch with their fourth straight game against teams in the poll as they host #RV IU Southeast at 7 p.m. on Friday in Luckey Arena.