Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Jordan Nelson
Marc Featherly/IWU
Jordan Nelson had 14 vs, the Cardinals

Titans Lose CCIW Opener, 78-72, to Cardinals

1/3/2015 9:08:00 PM

Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – In a game that had 13 ties and 14 lead changes, the No. 9 Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team lost its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener, 78-72, at North Central at the Gregory Center in Naperville on Saturday, Jan. 3.
 
The Titans lost their second straight game and slipped to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the league while No. 21 North Central improved to 11-1.
 
Illinois Wesleyan trailed at halftime 36-35 but led 46-45 with 13:44 to play in the game when the Cardinals went on a 26-14 run over a 10-minute stretch to snag an 11-point lead (their largest of the game) at 71-60 with 4:05 remaining.
 
But the Titans then went on a run of their own, outscoring the Cards 10-1 to close to within two at 72-70 with a minute to play after a 3-pointer by senior Jordan Nelson. But North Central connected on six of six from the free throw line in the final minute to close out the win.
 
"Our kids really battled tonight and the game could have gone either way," said IWU head coach Ron Rose in a postgame interview on WJBC Radio. "North Central made a move in the middle of the second half to get their 10 point lead and they hit a couple of tough shots while we missed a couple. It was a hard-fought CCIW battle. I'm disappointed we lost but proud that our kids gave a good effort tonight."
 
The Cardinals outrebounded IWU 39-33 and had 30 points in the paint compared to 20 for IWU. The Titans, led by Nelson's 14, had 33 bench points to 17 for the Cardinals.
 
Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .418 (23 of 55)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .308 (8 of 26)
Free Throw Percentage - .667 (18 of 27)
Sophomore Trevor Seibring (15 points, 6 rebounds)
Senior Jordan Nelson (14 points)
Junior Bryce Dolan (8 points)
 
North Central Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .441 (26 of 59)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .286 (4 of 14)
Free Throw Percentage - .815 (22 of 27)
Jack Burchett (25 points, 5 rebounds)
Erwin Henry (15 points)
Jayme Moten (16 points, 5 rebounds)
Kevin Honn (11 points)
 
Who's Next?
The Titans continue CCIW road action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, playing at Wheaton at 7 p.m. The Thunder is 7-5 overall and 0-1 in the CCIW after an 83-75 loss at Elmhurst on Saturday.
 
Print Friendly Version