MARION, Ind. – No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan men's basketball secured a 79-69 victory over No. 11 Bethel in Luckey Arena on Saturday to close out the regular season. The red and grey maintained a steady lead throughout, highlighted by a 15-point advantage in the second half. The team capitalized on the Pilots' turnovers, scoring 13 points off turnovers and receiving a strong contribution from its bench with 35 points. BU managed to stay within reach, cutting the deficit to three in the first half, but Indiana Wesleyan's consistent scoring in the paint helped seal the win.


THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Marion, Ind. | Luckey Arena
• Records: IWU 24-4, 14-4 CRL | BU 22-6, 12-6 CRL
• NAIA Top 25 Rankings: IWU – #3 | BU – #11

• IWU capitalized on the Pilots' early turnovers, with DJ Moore scoring twice in the paint to give an early lead.
• At 10:27, Caedmon Bontrager's fastbreak layup, assisted by Isaac Andrews, contributed to a brief scoring surge that put the Wildcats ahead 19–17.
• Bethel's Carter Kent tied the game at 28 with a 3-pointer at 3:01, but Indiana Wesleyan responded with a strong finish, including a key layup from Jake Smith at 1:32.
• The red and grey took a 36–31 lead into halftime, concluding the half with Julius Gizzi's jumper at the buzzer.

• Indiana Wesleyan opened the half with a strong defensive effort, including a steal by Jake Smith at 18:50, setting the stage for a series of successful plays on both ends.
• Bontrager contributed significantly with a dunk at 17:18 and a three-point play at 16:03, helping Indiana Wesleyan extend its lead.
• The Pilots attempted to counter with a scoring run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Austin Cripe at 6:13, but the Wildcats maintained their advantage.
• Indiana Wesleyan secured the victory with a 79–69 lead at the end of the game.

• Julius Gizzi: 24 points, 8-11 FG, 8-8 FT
• Caedmon Bontrager: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals
• DJ Moore: 8 points, 8 assists
• Isaac Andrews: 8 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds

• The Wildcats will host the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals in Luckey Arena on Wednesday against Saint Francis (Ind.) at 7:00 p.m.
• Links for tickets, video, and stats are available at IWUWildcats.com.

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