Box Score Carthage 70, Illinois Wesleyan 67 - Box Score, Feb. 27
KENOSHA, Wis. - In a game that changed hands three times in the final minute of play, the Illinois Wesleyan Titans lost a 70-67 decision at Carthage in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament championship game on Feb. 27.
As a result of the win, the Red Men (22-5) receive the league's automatic entry into the NCAA Division III tournament and the Titans (20-7) will have to wait until Monday morning to see what their postseason fate will be.
Junior
Sean Johnson led Illinois Wesleyan with 17 points and junior
Doug Sexauer scored 14. Junior
Travis Rosenkranz added 10 points and had a team-high seven rebounds as the Titans outrebounded the Red Men by a scant 30-29 margin.
The Titans, who were ranked No. 29 in the weekly D3hoops.com poll, shot 46 percent from the field (26 of 56) and connected on 11 of 18 free throw tries (61 percent). Carthage shot 54 percent (30 of 55) and made five of the six free throws they shot in the game with two from Mitch Thompson coming with six seconds left. The Titans were four of 16 (25 percent) and the Red Men were five of 15 (33 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Red Men, No. 16 in the D3hoops.com poll and winners of the regular season phase of the CCIW with a 12-2 record, were led by CCIW "Player of the Year" Steve Djurickovic, who scored 26 points with two baskets in the game's final minute.
The Titans led only once at 2-0 early and trailed, 36-28, at the half. Carthage built the lead to 13 points at 45-32 with 16:20 to play in the game. IWU went on a 19-6 run to tie the game at 51-51 with 7:18 to go, and the game was tied again at 55-55 (5:11). The Titans led by four on two occasions - 63-59 wth 2:53 left after a
Ryan Connolly layup and 65-61 following two Johnson free throws. But the Red Men scored nine of the game's final 11 points to earn the win in their first-ever CCIW tournament appearance.
Should the Titans be selected to an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III tournament on Monday, it would be the first since the 2006 team finished third in the nation.
The Titans have been in the NCAA Division III tournament 18 times in the 27 years of NCAA affiliation and have a 39-18 record in tournament play, including a national championship in 1997 and third place finishes in 1996, 2001 and 2006.
