Box Score Illinois Wesleyan 77, Carthage 72 - Box Score, March 12

NCAA Sectional Web Site at Wis.-Stevens Point

Illinois Wesleyan Game Notes Prior to Sectional

STEVENS POINT, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team came from behind to defeat Carthage, 77-72, and earn a place in the final eight of the NCAA Division III championships.

Juniors Sean Johnson and Doug Sexauer each had 26 points to lead the Titans, who improved to 23-7 and will play at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, against Stevens Point, who was a 74-67 winner over Texas-Dallas in second sectional semifinal.
This will be the Titans' eighth appearance in the NCAA final eight, the last being in 2006 when the team went on to finish third. Others were 2001 (third place), 1997 (champions), 1996 (third place), 1995, 1990 and 1988.

In their third straight NCAA tournament game the Titans have won by five points, IWU trailed 36-32 at halftime and fell behind 47-38 with 15:53 to play in the game.

The Titans shot 54 percent from the field (28 of 52) and connected on 13 of 18 free throw tries (72 percent). Carthage shot 46 percent (26 of 58) and committed only five turnovers in the game compared to eight for IWU. The Titans outrebounded the Red Men, 32-27, and Johnson gathered in a career-high 12 boards.

Steve Djurickovic scored 25 for Carthage while Tyler Pierce had 18 and Max Cary scored 15 in the loss as Carthage's season ends with a 24-6 record.