GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jonny Marlin (JR/Greenwood, Ind.) took over the game on Saturday afternoon as Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball defeated Cornerstone (Mich.) 83-78 in a marquee matchup at the Crossroads League/WHAC Challenge in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Indiana Wesleyan is ranked No. 1 in the nation and improves to 5-0 on the season while Cornerstone, ranked No. 11, drops their first game of the year and is now 3-1.

Marlin scorched the Golden Eagles for 35 points on 11-of-16 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. The junior point guard hit 9-of-10 free throws and also dished out five assists.

The Wildcats did not hold a lead until Marlin drilled a 3-pointer with 3:25 remaining in the first half. IWU extended the lead to as many as six points in the final three minutes of the half before taking a 42-38 lead into halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than six points. The half featured eight ties and eight lead changes.

Cornerstone led by two at 67-65 with 4:34 to play. Marlin hit a pair of free throws to the score and Lane Mahurin (SO/Rockville, Ind.) scored on a second chance opportunity during the next possession to give Indiana Wesleyan a 69-67 lead with 3:29 to play.

Marlin put the Wildcats up by five with 2:26 remaining but the Golden Eagles responded with five straight points to tie the score 74-74 with 55 seconds on the clock. Once again Marlin drained a critical 3-pointer to give the Wildcats the lead 77-74.

Marlin would continue to hit important shots down the stretch to help IWU stave off Cornerstone. Two times in the final 20 seconds Cornerstone drew within one point and Marlin stepped up and hit two free throws to up the advantage to three points. The second of those times put IWU up 81-78 with five seconds to go. Bob Peters (SO/Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) fouled Michael McLaughlin with three seconds to play and he missed both free throws. Zac Vandewater (SR/Warsaw, Ind.) was fouled and he iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday as they play at Cincinnati Christian (Ohio).