Box Score 2010 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Tournament Web Site

Illinois Wesleyan 81, Cal Lutheran 69 - Box Score

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Senior Doug Sexauer was named "Most Valuable Player" as Illinois Wesleyan won the 2010 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Tournament with an 81-69 win over Cal Lutheran, the host school, on Thursday, Dec. 30.

Sexauer scored 16 points in the title game and was joined on the all-tournament team by junior Jordan Zimmer. The other players named to the all-tourney team were Greg Grimm and Aaron Fisher from Cal Lutheran, Stefan Thompson of Hobart and Andrew Powers from Gettysburg.

The Titans, who improved to 9-2, trailed 41-40 at halftime but outscored the Kingsmen by a 41-28 margin in the final stanza to seal the win. Cal Lutheran fell to 4-5 with the loss.

Senior guard Sean Johnson also contributed 16 points while Zimmer scored 15 points and was six-for-six from the field, including a 3-pointer, and made both his free throws. Junior center Ryan Connolly added 12 points in nine minutes off the bench as IWU's reserves outscored Cal Lutheran's by a 25-9 count.

Illinois Wesleyan made 32 of 54 from the field (59.3 percent) and connected on six of 11 3-point field goal attempts (54.5 percent) while making only 11 of 21 free throws (52.4 percent).

IWU outrebounded Cal Lutheran, 30-27, as Sexauer led the team with six boards. Aaron Van Klaveren had a game-high nine rebounds for CLU.

The Kingsmen shot 50 percent (22 of 44) from the field and made five of 13 (38.5 percent) from 3-point range. Cal Lutheran made 20 of 33 free throws (.606) and had four players score in double figures, led by Collin Knudsen with 17.

Illinois Wesleyan opens 2011 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play next Wednesday, January 5, at the Shirk Center with a 7:30 p.m. game against North Central.