Box Score SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The No. 1-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball team traveled south for the week and played the first of two games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Indiana Wesleyan kept their unbeaten streak alive on Tuesday with an 82-62 victory over host Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. IWU improves to 13-0 this season while Rio Piedras -- a NCAA Division II program -- drops to 2-8. Including last year, Indiana Wesleyan has won 18 consecutive games.
Murray erupted for a career-high 20 points which doubles his previous career-best of 10 points which he set on Saturday at Olivet (Mich.). The sophomore center entered play today with a grand total of 24 points in the first nine games of the season.
Murray’s 20 points was a game-high as he finished 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. He also pulled down three rebounds.
Indiana Wesleyan led much of the first half and built a 38-24 lead at halftime. The 14 point cushion was the highest in the opening 20 minutes.
The Wildcats seemed to have put the Gallitos away early in the second half as they led by 16 points at 44-28. But the Gallitos scored the game’s next 12 points in a three minute span to suddenly close the gap to 44-40.
Indiana Wesleyan led 48-44 and then used an 11-0 spurt to take a 59-44 advantage. Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras did not threaten the rest of the way. Indiana Wesleyan led by as many as 21 points before claiming the 82-62 victory.
Three other Wildcats joined Murray in double digits in scoring today. Lane Mahurin (SO/Rockville, Ind.) finished with 13 points, Josh Mawhorr (JR/Muncie, Ind.) added 11 points, and Bob Peters (SO/Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) ended with 10 points. Peters also had five assists and two rebounds and Nate Bubash collected nine first half rebounds.
Indiana Wesleyan showcased their unselfish style of play today as the team was credited with 26 assists on 31 field goals made. Jonny Marlin (JR/Greenwood, Ind.) led the way with 11 assists in the win.
Indiana Wesleyan plays one more game while in San Juan, Puerto Rico. IWU battles Puerto Rico-Bayamon tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.