KOKOMO, Ind. -- No. 1-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball broke open a tied game late with a 25-7 run to finish the game to defeat host IU Kokomo 87-69 in Kokomo, Indiana.

IU Kokomo (4-9) forced a tie three times late, with the last of those coming at 62-62 with under 7 minutes left to play. Lane Mahurin (SO/Rockville, Ind.) scored in the paint with 6:32 left in the game to put Indiana Wesleyan ahead 64-62. IWU did not surrender the lead the rest of the game.

The Wildcats never trailed in the opening half and led by as many as 13 points (34-21). The Wildcats maintained a double digit lead as the first half horn sounded at 36-26.

Aaron Murray (SO/Louisville, Ky.) scored down low for Indiana Wesleyan as they claimed a 50-36 lead with 14:32 remaining. IU Kokomo quickly responded with a 14-4 run in a three minute span to trail 54-50.

The Cougars took their first lead of the game with 8:39 left on a Bryan Powell basket. Jonny Marlin (JR/Greenwood, Ind.) quickly tied it for the Wildcats 14 seconds later for the first of the three ties that led to the final IWU run.

Mahurin finished with a team-best 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The sophomore also had five rebounds and three steals. Marlin contributed 14 points and 9 assists, Jacob Johnson (FR/Mooresville, Ind.) finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds, and Murray earned 14 points and 5 rebounds.

Indiana Wesleyan (15-0) shot 47.1-percent (33 of 70) from the field, 30.0-percent (9 of 30) from 3-point range, and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. IWU dished out 15 assists to only 8 turnovers in the game.

IU Kokomo finished at 50.0-percent (28 of 56) from the field but was plagued by turnovers all game long. IUK committed 24 turnovers and managed just 8 assists in the losing effort. Indiana Wesleyan took advantage of the mistakes and held a 24-6 margin in points off turnovers.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to Crossroads League play after New Year’s. IWU will play at Marian on Saturday, January 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.