OTTUMWA, Iowa (Interstat) — The Indian Hills Warriors remained undefeated Saturday, using a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the John A. Logan Volunteers for a 77-68 victory in a men’s junior college basketball game.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and frequent trips to the free-throw line, the Warriors outscored the Volunteers 49-42 after halftime to break open a game that was tightly contested in the early going. The win lifts Indian Hills to a perfect 5-0 record across all competitions, while John A Logan evens its season mark at 2-2.

The game did not live up to its offensive billing from statistical projections, which had forecast a high-scoring shootout. Instead, both teams struggled from the field in a physical, turnover-plagued affair. The Warriors ultimately secured the win by capitalizing more efficiently on their possessions and from the charity stripe.

Indian Hills scored 77 points on 80 possessions for an offensive rating of 96.8, while John A Logan managed 68 points on 81 possessions for an offensive rating of 84.3.

Xavier Wilson led a balanced Warriors attack with 15 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes of action. He was one of five Indian Hills players to score in double figures, joined by KJ LaMonte, who also had 15 points and five rebounds, Mason Costello with 10 points, and Taj Au-Duke, who chipped in 10 points and three assists.

Alexander Bryant paced the Volunteers with 15 points and five rebounds. Marcus Eaves added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Christian Doerr and Decarl Payne contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The first half was a back-and-forth struggle, with Indian Hills taking a narrow 28-26 lead into the break. The game was marred by sloppy play from the outset, as both teams combined for numerous turnovers and fouls in the opening minutes. The Warriors built their lead in the second half by tightening their defense and consistently drawing fouls.

Shooting woes plagued both squads throughout the night. John A Logan shot just 19 for 56 from the floor, a frigid 33.9 percent, and were an abysmal 3 for 22 from three-point range. Indian Hills fared slightly better, making 23 of 52 field goal attempts, but also struggled from deep, connecting on only 2 of 12 three-pointers.

The difference came at the free-throw line, where the Warriors attempted 37 free throws, making 29. The Volunteers were 27 of 33 from the line. Both teams finished with 36 total rebounds.

The game was a defensive grind, with the teams combining for 44 turnovers and 54 personal fouls. John A Logan committed 18 turnovers and 28 fouls, while Indian Hills had 16 turnovers and 26 fouls.

The victory extends Indian Hills’ strong start to the season, which includes previous wins over Malcolm X, Dodge City, Cloud County and Pratt. The Warriors will look to continue their winning ways next Friday when they host Salt Lake.

John A Logan, which entered the game following a 77-69 loss at Coffeyville on Friday, will next face Kankakee at home on Nov. 25.