FORT WAYNE, Ind. - No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan men's basketball began 2025 on Saturday afternoon as they resumed Crossroads League play on the road against Saint Francis (Ind.). The Wildcats led for 75% of the game but was never able to gain a lead larger than 10 points. Saint Francis took the lead for the first time with 6:23 left and held off all comeback attempts to hand IWU their fourth league loss of the season, 80-77.

 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hutzell Athletic Center
• Records: IWU: 11-4 (1-4 CRL) | USF: 11-4 (4-1 CRL)
• NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - #22 | USF – Unranked

WHAT HAPPENED

• Six different Wildcats got on the scoreboard in the opening ten minutes of play as IWU took an early 25-17 lead over Saint Francis.
• Griffin Kliewer led all scorers with 15 points in the first half to help extend the Wildcat lead to 40-36 at halftime
• The red and gray scored 12 points in the paint early in the second half, and IWU held a four-point lead with ten minutes left in a tightly contested game.
• Kliewer tied the game up at 75-75, but USF converted an and-one layup, forced an IWU turnover, and hit three free-throws in the final minute of play to secure the win.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 24: The 24 fouls called against IWU were the most in a game this season
• 15: IWU effectively crashed the offensive glass to convert 15 second chance points.
• 12: The Wildcats scored 12 points off seven Cougar turnovers.
• 8: Bright Kari played in his first game as a Wildcat with eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

KEY WILDCATS

• Griffin Kliewer: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
• Marcus Ankney: 13 points, 3-7 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• DeeJuan Pruitt: 10 points, 7 rebounds

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Wildcats remain on the road on Wednesday when they play to rival Taylor at 7:30PM.
• Links for video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

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