GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen forced overtime against the #11 team in the NAIA on Saturday afternoon, but Indiana Wesleyan came through in the end to win 82-73 in overtime. IWU is now 17-3 this season.
Goshen took their first lead at 8-6 and later used a 7-0 run to go up 30-22. The Leafs led by nine at one point but IWU finished the first half on an 11-5 run. The Leafs led by three at the break, 40-37. The Leafs made 56% of their first-half shots (14-25) and were 50% from three (8-16). They also hit all four of their free-throw attempts.
The Wildcats scored the first five points of the second half and went on a 12-1 run later on. IWU was up nine at 63-54 with ten minutes to go, but Goshen responded with a 14-4 run to take the lead at 68-67 with under three minutes to play. The teams were tied 69-69 with two minutes left, and the score held until a Goshen foul with nine seconds left. Julius Gizzi hit two free-throws to give the visitors the lead, 71-69.
With less than three seconds to go,
Marcus Northern drove in on the other end and was fouled. While he narrowly missed the shot, his two free-throws went through. Indiana Wesleyan's last-second heave at the buzzer was no good and the teams headed to overtime. IWU hit a three within the first 40 seconds, and that would be all they would need.
Marcus Northern made a bucket for the Leafs, but that was all of their scoring in the overtime period. The Wildcats outscored the Leafs 11-2 in overtime to win 82-73.
When the teams last met earlier this season on November 19 in Marion, IWU won 108-61. This was Goshen's first home overtime game against a conference opponent since January 13, 2021 against Grace, but it is their third overtime game this season.
Kamren Williams had 16 points - his highest total in a conference game. He was 6-6 at the line and is 10-10 over the last two games on free-throw attempts. It was his fifth-straight game with ten or more points. Marucs Northern had 15 points and tied a season-high with four assists. He is sitting at 897 points for his career.
Kevin Cota had 14 points - his fourth-straight game in double figures. He played a career-high 39 minutes and totaled a career-high four steals.
Goshen is at Bethel on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:00 pm.
