Men’s Basketball Drops Contest Against No. 10 IWU

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team (11-5, 3-3 CL) hosted No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan University (14-2, 4-2 CL) in Ariel Arena on Wednesday, January 7. 

It was a tightly contested battle in the early stages of the first half as both teams battled for control. After a three from IWU to tie the game at 12-12, Abib Abib drove down the lane and soared through the air, throwing down a powerful one-hand slam to give MVNU the lead with 12:06 remaining before the break. The game would be tied at 31-31 with 3:45 left before break, but the Wildcats closed the half on a 10-3 run, taking a 41-34 lead. 

IWU opened the second half strong and would go on a 14-4 run to take a 55-38 lead heading into the first media timeout. The Wildcats remained in control, leading by double digits the rest of the way, eventually defeating the Cougars by a final score of 91-66. 

IWU was hot from the field, shooting 53% overall and 46% (12-26) from deep. MVNU shot 33% from the floor and 25% (4-16) from three. Isaiah Brown led the Cougars in scoring with 22 points on 6-12 shooting from the floor and 9-10 shooting from the line. Devin Dreier had 13 points for the Cougars and five rebounds. Abib was the third Cougar in double figures with 10 points. 

Coach Ronai's Thoughts 

"IWU was terrific in spurts tonight. Against a team of that caliber, you can't have extended lulls. It's a back-and-forth game for the first 16-17 minutes, and we didn't finish the half or start the half well. The middle eight are so important, and IWU went on spurts in those segments. This young group will respond well tomorrow." 

What's Next 

MVNU heads to Mishawaka, Indiana for a conference road game at No. 7 Bethel University. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,100 students from 33 states and 26 foreign countries.