WINONA LAKE, Ind. – No. 5-seed Indiana Wesleyan men's basketball took on the top-seed Grace on Friday night in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals. IWU held a 12-point lead early in the second half, but the Lancers rallied to force overtime and avoid the Wildcat upset, 89-82.

 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Winona Lake, Ind. | Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center
• Records: IWU: 21-9 | GC: 25-5
• Tournament Seeding: IWU - #5 | GC - #1

WHAT HAPPENED

• The Wildcats jumped out to 23-13 lead through the first ten minutes, highlighted by a 16-5 run in a five-minute span.
• IWU won the turnover margin in the first half (+4) and held a 42-32 lead at halftime after shooting 51.6% from the field.
• Grace rallied to retake the lead early in the second half, 57-54, after a 21-6 run.
• Luke Brown hit a go-ahead jumper with 40 seconds left, but a foul on the following possession allowed Grace to hit two free throws and force overtime.
• The Wildcats trailed by two with over two minutes left, but two-consecutive empty possessions and a layup by Grace with a minute left put the game out of reach.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 20: The Wildcats committed 20 fouls for just the 5^th time this season.
• -18: GC held the advantage inside with 50 points in the paint compared to 32 for IWU.
• 5: The red and gray only got five points from their bench.
• 3: Grace have knocked Indiana Wesleyan out of the Crossroads League Tournament in three of the last four years.

KEY WILDCATS

• Luke Brown: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
• Caedmon Bontrager: 24 points, 9 rebounds
• Griffin Kliewer: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Wildcats turn their focus to the NAIA National Championship First & Second Round on March 14-15.
• Information will be announced during the NAIA Selection Show on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
• Fans can watch the show by clicking HERE.

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