MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO #9 INDIANA WESLEYAN

MARION, Ind. - Men's Basketball (10-2, 5-1) had a tough outing offensively against #9 Indiana Wesleyan (11-2, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon, falling 93-65 at Luckey Arena. The Warriors struggled with their offensive sets, and rebounds came at a premium against the Wildcats.

Guard Gunner Walters led the way in scoring with 15 points while pulling down nine rebounds as five Warriors scored in double figures. Indiana Wesleyan had six players score in double figures, with forward Javan Buchanan leading with 18.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• After a 5-0 start by the Wildcats, the Warriors' Brett White would hit a three off a find by Walters to get the scoring started for Rochester. The Warriors got to the line several times to open the game, keeping the game close by hitting free throws
• Off a few bad turnovers, Indiana Wesleyan expanded the lead to nine with fastbreak points. The lead continued to grow off an and-one by the Wildcats' Nolan Mader. Rochester would end a 13-0 Indiana Wesleyan run with a three by forward Brandon Michrina
• Rochester continued to get to the line, but turnovers prevented any progress by the Warriors, who found themselves down by double-digits. Guard Brody Parker would find Walters for an open three, only for that to be quickly answered by Griffin Kliewer
• Center James Fisher helped get Rochester back into a groove with consecutive layups, and guard Bralin Toney would locate Michrina for another three to cut the lead to 11. A Buchanan layup would put the lead back up to 13 at halftime for the Wildcats

SECOND HALF

• Rochester cut the deficit to 10 thanks to a three by Parker and scores by White. Shortly after, Rochester got it under double-digits behind another big three from Parker. However, the Wildcats started to figure it out offensively, jumping out to a 15-point lead behind another three from Kliewer
• The Warriors struggled to find answers for much of the second half, with the Wildcats continuing to hit big shots and finding points in the paint. Indiana Wesleyan got the lead to 28 before the final buzzer, ending the game 93-65

POSTGAME PRESSER

Head Coach Klint Pleasant had this to say about the loss:

"We had no sense of urgency and did not execute in the areas that were within our control. Furthermore, we chose to not make anything hard on IWU with our lack of offensive movement.

Those things are easily fixed, but it will take leadership and maturity. "

STAT OF THE GAME

The Wildcats outscored Rochester in the paint 58-24. That margin was largely due to the disparity in fastbreak points, where the Wildcats had a 20-0 advantage

UP NEXT

Rochester will look to shake off the dust and resume conference play at Garth Pleasant Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Siena Heights (5-7, 2-4).

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications