Illinois Wesleyan 79, Manchester 77 - Box Score, November 29

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Junior Sean Johnson, who scored a career-high 32 points, made a basket from just inside midcourt with no time left on the clock to give Illinois Wesleyan a 79-77 win over Manchester at the Shirk Center on November 29.

Sophomore Jordan Zimmer had 13 points and sophomore Ryan Connolly contributed 10.

The Spartans had five players score in double digits, led by 14 points from Tyler Henn ith 13 each from Nathan Ferch and Tyler Delauder. Mitch Schaefer, who hit a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds to play to give the Spartans a 77-76 lead, scored 12 (all on 3-pointers) and Matt Morris scored 10.

The Titans (who improved to 4-1 with the win) led by 12 at 61-49 with 10:42 to play in the game but Manchester went on a 10-0 run to close to within two at 61-59 with 6:00 left. Over the next nearly four minute span, IWU re-established a lead of nine at 74-65 with 2:43 to play.

Manchester got a 3-pointer from Schaefer and a basket and free throw from Henn to close to 74-71 but the Titans added a fast break layup by Doug Sexauer on a long pass from senior Sean Dwyer to go ahead, 76-71 with :22 remaining.

A 3-pointer by Delauder followed by a Titan turnover and Schaefer's trey with 3.4 left, gave Manchester (4-2) a 77-76 edge, their first lead since 32-31 in the first half.

Following a timeout, Johnson got the inbounds pass, dribbled to just beyond half court and connected on the gamewinner.

Manchester shot 54 percent from the field (28 of 52) and made 10 of 22 3-point tries but hit on only 11 of 19 free throws (58 percent). The Titans held a 32-28 rebound edge, led by six from junior Edmond O'Callaghan. Illinois Wesleyan shot 51 percent from the field (30 of 59) and made 10 of 26 3-point attempts (38 percent).