By GREG MENGELT

MARION — Indiana University Southeast found out exactly why Indiana Wesleyan is ranked ninth in the country and is considered a national championship contender during Tuesday’s 109-76 defeat in Marion.

The Wildcats shot 57.6 percent from the floor, made 53.8 percent of its 3-point attempts and controlled the game from start to finish. Indiana Wesleyan, which had 29 assists on 38 buckets, had four players in double figures led by Seth Maxwell’s 26.

Four Grenadiers reached double figures in the defeat. Anthony Wales Jr. led IU Southeast with 19 points, while Jared Osborne and Glenn Hill Jr. finished with 16 apiece and Charlestown graduate Caleb Brown contributed 10 points and an assist.

Indiana Wesleyan, which entered the NAIA tournament as the top ranked team before bowing out in the Sweet 16, out-rebounded the Grenadiers 44-25 and led by as many as 40 when a late 35-10 run put the Wildcats ahead 108-68.

IUS (1-3) heads to the University of the Cumberlands for a tournament this week. The Grenadiers face the host Patriots Thursday at 7 p.m.