MARION, Ind. -- The impressive early season success of No. 1-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball continued on Friday night as IWU routed visiting IU Southeast 107-68 in Luckey Arena.

The Wildcats improve to 7-0 to start the defense of their national title while the Grenadiers even their record at 2-2. The Grenadiers, a team receiving votes in the NAIA Top-25 Poll, is the third straight opponent for the Wildcats that is recognized in the preseason poll. Out of seven wins this season, the Wildcats have defeated two ranked opponents and two teams receiving votes.

Indiana Wesleyan won going away despite having a rare off night from behind the 3-point line. IWU entered play as the best 3-point shooting team in the nation at 54.9-percent. Tonight, Indiana Wesleyan struggled to 34.6-percent (9 of 26), including just 1-of-9 (11.1-percent) in the first half.

“We have a lot of versatility and a lot of unselfishness,” said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Greg Tonagel. “We didn’t have it going from 3 tonight so instead of forcing it and taking bad shots we gave our post players opportunities and they took advantage of it.”

IU Southeast led 13-10 eight minutes into the game before Indiana Wesleyan had their first surge of the evening. Indiana Wesleyan scored 17 of the next 19 points to take a 27-15 advantage. The 17-2 run was paced by a balanced attack as six different Wildcats scored in the stretch.

Jake Simpson hit a field goal for the Grenadiers with 4:52 left in the half to close the deficit to 27-21. For the second time in the half the Wildcats built a sizable run as they scored 17 of the next 21 points to lead 44-25. Jonny Marlin (JR/Greenwood, Ind.) and Lane Mahurin (SO/Rockville, Ind.) dominated in the run as they scored 14 of the 17 Wildcat points.

In the second half, IU Southeast got no closer than 12 points at 46-34. Indiana Wesleyan used yet another big run of 19-3 to gain its largest lead at that point at 66-37. The lead would remain 20 or more the rest of the game.

“I didn’t think we played well to be honest,” said Tonagel. “We played good and I think our defense played good in the first half. Our offense kind of lost its rhythm in the first half but we did better in the second half.”

Indiana Wesleyan featured seven players in double figures tonight. Josh Mawhorr (JR/Muncie, Ind.) had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Zac Vandewater (SR/Warsaw, Ind.) earned 11 points and 10 rebounds as IWU boasted a pair of double-doubles. Bob Peters (SO/Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) finished with 16 points and six assists, Jonny Marlin added 13 points and eight assists, Lane Mahurin chipped in 13 points, and Nate Bubash and Jacob Johnson (FR/Mooresville, Ind.) each scored 10 points.

“We have a lot of guys that can make a lot of different plays,” added Tonagel. “We are realizing as a staff that we just need to let them play. Don’t over-coach them and stay out of their way because when they play they’re fun and are pretty challenging to defend.”

Indiana Wesleyan returns to the court at 7 p.m. on Wednesday as they host Judson (Ill.) in Luckey Arena.