Box Score Illinois Wesleyan 65, Monmouth 55 - Box Score, Dec. 1

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team, ranked No. 16 in the weekly D3hoops.com poll, staved off a stubborn Monmouth team, 65-55, to improve to 5-1 on Dec. 1.

The Titans, who have won as many home games (5) so far this year as they did all of last season, were led by the 18 points of junior Sean Johnson and junior Doug Sexauer added 15 points with a game-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ryan Connolly added 11 points with six boards.

For the second straight game, the Titans saw a large second half lead dissipate. IWU led by 10 at 40-30 with 14:53 left to play only to see Monmouth crawl back to within one at 42-41 with 8:40 to go. But over the next six minutes, the Titans went on a 17-4 run to hold a 59-45 lead with 2:55 left in the game.

IWU shot 47 percent for the game (23 of 49) and outrebounded Monmouth, 36-35. The Scots managed just 32 percent from the floor (19 of 59) and shot 21 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (five of 24). Both teams were guilty of 17 turnovers.

The Scots (1-3) collected 22 points and nine rebounds from Eric Cogdill and 15 points and seven rebounds out of Zach Ott.

The Titans will play their first road game of the 2009-10 campaign on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the University of Chicago.