MARION – A red-hot shooting night from No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan bested the Grace College men’s basketball team 112-91 on Tuesday night in the conference opener.

The Wildcats (7-1, 1-0 Crossroads League) hit a sizzling 57 percent of their field goals, including 15-of-23 (65 percent) from the 3-point line.

Grace shot the ball well itself by making 49 percent from the floor and 84 percent on free throws, but IWU’s hot hand carried the game.

Erik Bowen tied for scoring honors with 18 points, adding nine rebounds as well, and Jaret Sons racked up 18 points in 22 minutes off the bench. Sons sank 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and made all six of his free throws.

IWU seized momentum from the first minutes of the game. The Lancers (8-2, 0-1 Crossroads League) turned the ball over three times in their first four possessions, and IWU made Grace pay.

The Wildcats went ahead 20-5 after just six minutes, but Grace battled back. Logan Godfrey and Chad Hoffer  combined to score 10 of Grace’s points in a row midway into the first half to cut IWU’s lead down to seven at 38-31.

Grace still trailed 59-48 at halftime thanks to IWU’s hot shooting.

Unfortunately for Grace, the Wildcats shooting touch did not disappear in the second half. After hitting seven 3s in the first half, IWU bettered that mark after halftime by making 8-of-11 (73 percent) from beyond the arc.

The first four minutes of the second half were promising for Grace. Bowen scored four quick points, the last of which trimmed the Wildcats’ margin down to 61-56.

IWU responded with a furious offensive outburst, racking up 13 points in less than two minutes to wrestle control of the game for good.

Godfrey finished in double-digit scoring with 15 points and five boards, and Braxton Linville,  Hoffer and Charlie Warner each scored eight.

The Lancers will host two doubleheaders next week with the women’s team. On Wednesday, Grace welcomes Mt. Vernon Nazarene. On Saturday, archrival Bethel will visit the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.