Box Score Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior Jordan Zimmer led five players in double figure scoring as the Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team cruised to a 99-70 season-opening win over Benedictine at the Shirk Center on Wednesday (Nov. 16).

Senior John Koschnitzky and sophomore Victor Davis each scored 15 points while junior Kevin Reed and sophomore Nick Anderson each added 11 points. Senior Eliud Gonzalez distributed nine assists and freshman David Molinari had four assists as the team had a total of 23.

Gonzalez and Davis led Illinois Wesleyan with seven rebounds each while Reed and sophomore Andrew Ziemnik each had six boards.

Benedictine was within six points at 34-28 with 4:53 to play in the first half but the Titans went on a 17-5 run for the remainder of the period and held the Eagles scoreless for the final 2:28 to get a 51-33 edge at intermission.

The Titans were 36-of-71 from the field (.507) and made eight-of-24 3-point field goal tries (.333). IWU hit 19-of-21 free throw tries (.905) and held a dominant 44-27 rebound edge in the game while forcing 19 turnovers.

Benedictine (1-1) shot .400 from the floor (22 of 55) and had converted 15-of-20 foul shots (.750). The Eagles made 11 of their 24 3-point field goal tries (.458).

Nate Green was the sole Eagle to score in double figures with a game-high 21.

The Titans play MacMurray at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 18) in the first round of the Illinois College Bill Merris Tournament and will play either Illinois College or Manchester on Saturday at 2 or 4 p.m.

NOTES: The Titans scored more than 90 points on just two occasions last season, downing Carthage by a 103-94 score on Jan. 29 and shelling MacMurray, 94-65, on Dec. 11...Both of those games were at the Shirk Center...