No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan tops BU in overtime

MARION, Ind. -- Despite a career-high 33 points from junior James Parrott, the second-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team survived with a dramatic 100-93 overtime win over fourth-ranked Bellevue University in the championship game of the Caleb Dimmich Memorial Tournament on the IWU campus. 

Down by two points at 82-80, the Bruins (1-1) forced the overtime on a tip-in from Parrott off a 40-foot inbounds pass as time expired in regulation. 

Indiana Wesleyan improved to 2-0 on the season with the tournament title. 

Parrott finished 11-of-16 from the field, including three 3-pointers. He was also 8-of-10 from the free throw line, while adding nine rebounds. 

Richard Shepherd finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Ousseynou Diop recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jeremy Arrington was the fourth Bruin in double figures with 10 points, while adding four assists. 

Patrick Hopkins (29) and Aaron Martin (21) combined for 50 points to pace the Wildcat offense. 

The Wildcats led by as many as nine points early in the first half before the Bruins closed the gap behind Parrott's 15 first-half points to pull BU to within three points at the intermission, 41-38.  

Hopkins led IWU in the opening period with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field. 

The two teams battled back and forth in the second period, which featured 11 ties and eight lead changes. 

Bellevue outshot IWU 51.4 percent to 40.9 percent, but the Wildcats capitalized on 19 second-chance points while holding a 20-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. IWU also held a 23-13 margin in free throws.

Bellevue will travel Hastings, Neb. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference game at Hastings College.