IWU Tops No. 3 Bethel 96-86 For Key Road Victory
January 17, 2026

IWU Tops No. 3 Bethel 96-86 For Key Road Victory

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan men's basketball closed out the first half of Crossroads League play with a 96-86 road victory over No. 3 Bethel. The Wildcats held a 20-point lead midway through the second half and maintained control with a 52.2% shooting performance from the field. This victory marks IWU's second road win over a Top 3-ranked team this season. The red and gray sit in 3rd place in the league standings at the halfway point.


THE ESSENTIALS

  • Location: Mishawaka, Ind. | Gates Gymnasium
  • Records: IWU 16-3, 6-3 CRL | BU 16-3, 6-3 CRL
  • NAIA Top 25 Rankings: IWU – #11 | BU – #3


FIRST HALF

  • Five second-chance points off five offensive rebounds put IWU up 13-11 lead through the opening 5:00 of play.
  • A tough fadeaway jumper by Crew Gibson as the shot clock expired put the Wildcats up 24-20 midway through the half.
  • Back-to-back buckets from Caedmon Bontrager put the red and gray up 35-26 with 5:00 left.
  • IWU's defense held Bethel to 14-32 from the field and 1-10 from deep in the first half and took a 47-37 lead at halftime.

 
SECOND HALF

  • Both teams traded buckets to begin the second half as IWU maintained their double-digit lead at 59-49 through the first 5:00.
  • The red and gray doubled up the Pilots with a 10-5 run to push their lead to 67-54 halfway through the second period.
  • Bethel made a late push and trimmed the Wildcat lead to 79-65 after an 8-0 run with just over 6:00 left.
  • IWU held off a BU rally by going 11-11 from the free-throw line in the final 5:00 to secure their second win against a Top 3 team this season 96-86.

 
KEY WILDCATS


LOOKING AHEAD

  • The Wildcats take a week off before traveling to Goshen next Saturday at 3:00 PM.
  • Links for video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.


NEXT HOME GAME

  • The Wildcats will be back in Luckey Arena on January 28 to take on Taylor at 7:00 PM.
  • Links for tickets, video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
  • Wildcat fans are encouraged to wear red for Hoops for Hope. IWU and Taylor are partnering to raise money and awareness for World Hope International. Participate in the Red Out (and purple out) by ordering your shirt today by clicking HERE. All proceeds will go to World Hope!


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