OWENSBORO, Ky. – After a sluggish first half, the IU Southeast men's basketball team used a red-hot offensive outburst in the second half for a 74-68 comeback win over NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday in the Wesleyan Thanksgiving Classic presented by Hampton Inn by Hilton.

IU Southeast (5-3) made just six field goals in the first half and finished the opening frame shooting 20 percent from the field. The Panthers (1-3) closed the half on an 18-6 run to take a 31-19 lead at the break.

David Burton sparked the Grenadier offense in the second half as he scored all of his career-high 18 points in the final 20 minutes. Jamie Johnson added 10 of his 16 points in the second half.

IU Southeast opened the second half with four quick points after forcing back-to-back turnovers to cut into the deficit. The Grenadiers came all the way back to take a 43-42 lead with 10:48 to play in the game but the Panthers answered with a 12-3 run to take the lead back.

The Grenadiers responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take a 58-54 lead that they would not relinquish. David Burton hit a huge three-pointer with just over two minutes to play that gave the Grenadiers a 68-58 lead which was enough to seal the win.

The swarming IU Southeast defense kept them in the game as the Grenadiers forced 18 turnovers and committed just five in the contest. The Grenadiers shot a sizzling 65 percent (20-of-31) from the field in the second half and were 8-of-17 (47 percent) from three-point range in the final 20 minutes.

David Burton lead IU Southeast with 18 points, Jamie Johnson had 16 points and five steals, Nick Tinsley had 12 points and Kerry Smith added 11 in the win. Erik Bell had 14 points and Adam Goetz had 12 for the Panthers.

IU Southeast returns home to open River States Conference play vs Alice Lloyd College Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.