MARION, Ind. – Kyle Mangas scored 15 straight points for the Wildcats to ignite a late rally as No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball overcame a double digit deficit for the third straight game in a 79-72 win over Grant County rival Taylor (Ind.). Mangas – who had 4 points in the first 32 minutes of the game – finished with 19 points as Indiana Wesleyan completed the night on a 31-13 run.

MORE LATE MAGIC

Taylor used a 33-11 run late in the first half that lasted until the midway point of the second half to turn a 37-26 Indiana Wesleyan lead into a 59-48 lead for Taylor. Facing a third consecutive game trailing by 11 points or more, Indiana Wesleyan scored 31 of the final 44 points to clinch the win.

STARTERS CARRY THE LOAD

All five Indiana Wesleyan starters scored in double figures, led by a game-high 20 points from Evan Maxwell. The IWU bench failed to score on just four shot attempts in 25 combined minutes of action. The Taylor bench outscored the Indiana Wesleyan bench, 22-0.

TAKING ADVANTAGE

Indiana Wesleyan was sent to the free throw line 18 times and the Wildcats hit on 17. The 94.4-percent shooting from the line is a season-best for the Wildcats. The program record at the free throw line is 14-of-14.

DOMINATING THE RIVALRY

The Wildcats have won 15 consecutive games and 21 of the last 23 games vs. Grant County rival Taylor. The last Trojan win in the series was on February 14, 2012. IWU head coach Greg Tonagel improves to 26-5 all-time in the rivalry game.

TONAGEL THOUGHTS

“Kyle Mangas is a pretty special kid. They did a great job on him but he found his time and found his moments late in the game. That is what makes Kyle special, he can turn it on at any moment.”

NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS

Indiana Wesleyan travels to Huntington (Ind.) on Saturday as part of a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The women tip at 1 p.m. and the men follow at approximately 3 p.m.