MARION, Ind. – Ryan Lutz missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for No. 13 Bethel (Ind.) as No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball escaped Luckey Arena with an 84-82 victory. Kyle Mangas scored a game-best 25 points and hit a key 3-pointer in the final minute as the Wildcats have won 6 of 7 games.

GAME VITALS

• Score:  Indiana Wesleyan def. Bethel, 84-82
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan  18-6, 9-3 Crossroads League   |   Bethel 17-7, 6-6 Crossroads League
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - No. 8   |   Bethel - No. 13
• Location:   Luckey Arena   |   Indiana Wesleyan University   |   Marion, Indiana

STAT TRACKER

• Evan Maxwell:  19 points, 7-12 FG, 7 rebounds
• Joel Okafor:  9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
• Kyle Mangas:  25 points, 9-17 FG, 5-9 3FG, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
• Micah Davis:  6 points, 2-2 3FG
• Grant Smith:  9 points, 4-8 FG
   

HOW THE WILDCATS WON…

• Indiana Wesleyan used a 10-0 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 75-69 lead with five minutes remaining. It was the first Indiana Wesleyan lead of the second half.
• Kyle Mangas seemed to put the game out of reach with a 3-pointer from NBA range for an 82-76 lead with 20 seconds to play. However, back-to-back Bethel possessions ended with 3-point plays – sandwiched with a Grant Smith free throw – which made it 83-82 and 4.8 seconds remaining.
• Joel Okafor hit on the second of two free throws for an 84-82 advantage. Bethel raced down the court and Ryan Lutz got a good look at the bucket but his 3-pointer drew the back iron as Indiana Wesleyan survived for the two-point win.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Indiana Wesleyan finished with 10 turnovers – eight in the first half and just two in the final 20 minutes.
• The Wildcats shot 42.9-percent from 3-point range on 12-of-28 shooting. The 12 made 3-pointers matches a season-high while the 28 attempts in a new high mark.
• Indiana Wesleyan held an 18-9 advantage on points off turnovers and a 10-0 advantage on second chance points.
• Bethel suffers their fourth consecutive loss. It is the first four game losing streak for the Pilots since February 2013.

COACH TONAGEL SAYS…

• “(Bethel’s) backs were to the wall and there is something to be said when you have to have a victory. You play with desperation and we saw that today. They played well. What I am proud about for our team is we fought through some adversity today. We got down and found a way. Kyle makes a big shot. We just found a way.”
   

NEXT TIME OUT

• Indiana Wesleyan travels to Indianapolis on Tuesday for a league contest at Marian. Tip is set for 7 p.m.