SIOUX CITY, S.D. (WTHR) - The Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats are national champions - again!
The Wildcats topped Saint Francis (Ind.) 84-71 Tuesday night to capture their third NAIA Division II men's basketball title in five years. Indiana Wesleyan also won the championship in 2014 and 2016.
- RELATED: Game recap
Kyle Mangas, a freshman from Warsaw, led the Wildcats with 23 points in the championship game and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Evan Maxwell added 20 points and was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
After Saint Francis got out to a quick 7-2 lead, the Wildcats recovered to take a 40-29 lead into halftime. The Cougars pulled within a point at 51-50, but Indiana Wesleyan never trailed and put the game away with a late 11-3 run.
“It is not something I really thought would happen. It is hard to put it in words right now," Indiana Wesleyan head coach Greg Tonagel said of the championship.
Senior Jacob Johnson from Mooresville scored 14 points and freshman Grant Smith from Connersville scored 13 to represent central Indiana schools in the final box score.
Derek Hinen scored 24 points to lead Saint Francis, who also lost the 2016 title game to the Wildcats.
Indiana Wesleyan's third title ties the NAIA Division II record for most national championships, a record they share with Bethel College and two other schools.
A celebration is planned on campus to welcome the Wildcats home to Marion on Wednesday.
