MARION, Ind. – Southern Wesleyan trailed by only two at the half but couldn't keep pace with the No. 2 ranked Wildcats from Indiana Wesleyan, falling 86-77 in the season-opener for both squads.

The Warriors trailed 42-40 at the break before being outscored 44-37 in the second half.  SWU was led by Cameron Solomon's 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor.  Solomon made two of the team's five three-pointers in the contest.

  
IWU entered the contest ranked No. 2 in the NAIA DII Preseason Poll after finishing last year ranked 7th.

Dwayne Bryant posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.  Jordan Weidner from IWU led all players with 26 points and seven assists.  The Warriors shot 44-percent from the floor in the game but just 5-of-16 from long range and 10-of-16 from the charity stripe.  The Wildcats also shot 44-percent from the floor and struggled from long range as well, connecting on just 7-of-26.

Kenny Holmes and Terrance Hutchins were also in double digits for SWU as Holmes recorded 11 points and Hutchins added 14 points and four assists off the bench.  Jordan Wallace led the team with five assists.
Both teams took care of the basketball fairly well, especially in the season-opener as the Warriors committed 16 turnovers and the Wildcats just 12.

  
The Warriors will take on Indiana East on Saturday at 1 p.m. while the Wildcats host Missouri Baptist in the finale of the Caleb Dimmich Memorial Tournament.  IUE defeated Missouri Baptist 94-86 in Friday night's first game.