MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Evan Maxwell poured in 39 points as No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University men’s basketball won 99-92 in overtime at No. 6 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). It is the first win for the Wildcats in Mount Vernon since February 2016.
MAXWELL STEPS UP
Evan Maxwell had a huge performance in a game that the Wildcats did not have leading scorer Kyle Mangas. Maxwell scored a career-high 39 points and pulled down a season-best 13 rebounds. He shot 12-of-18 from the field and 6-of-6 from 3-point range. His 39 points are the most this season by a Wildcat and is the ninth highest point total by a Wildcat in a single game.
WORKING OVERTIME
MVNU’s Brett Vipperman hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime tied at 80. Indiana Wesleyan dominated the overtime period and scored on each of their first five possessions in the extra frame for a 92-85 lead. IWU outscored MVNU 19-12 in the five minute period.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Mount Vernon Nazarene entered play tonight ranked fourth in the NAIA in Shooting Percentage at 53.4-percent. MVNU was limited to 46.8-percent tonight on 36-of-77 shooting. Indiana Wesleyan has not allowed an opponent to shoot 50-percent or better this season.
TONAGEL THOUGHTS
“Evan Maxwell stepped up when we needed him. He put us on his back. What a performance by the senior.”
NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS
Indiana Wesleyan is back home on Saturday vs. Goshen (Ind.). The women’s game starts at 1 p.m. and the men’s game follows at approximately 3 p.m. inside Luckey Arena.