Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In a nailbiter that saw 12 lead changes and five ties, the No. 4-ranked Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team defeated No. 14-ranked Wheaton, 78-71, Saturday (Jan. 18) in front of an estimated crowd of 2125 at the Shirk Center.
 
IWU improves to 14-2 and 4-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, as the Thunder fall to 10-6 and 3-2 in the league.
 
The Titans and Thunder went back and forth the first seven minutes of the game until Wheaton went on a 9-0 run lasting 2:26 minutes, stealing the lead, 23-13.
 
With just under eight minutes on the clock, the two teams were within a possession of each other until the buzzer when IWU concluded the half with a one-point advantage, 39-38.
 
Wheaton had a 51-49 lead with 13:49 to play before a basket and free throw by Michael Mayberger gave IWU the lead at 52-51 with 11:43 to play and the Titans held onto the lead by as many as seven points the remainder of the way. The Thunder could get no closer than three points with 24 seconds to go but missed a shot with 17 seconds left and free throws by Pat Sodemann and Dylan Overstreet sealed their fate at game's end.
 
IWU outrebounded Wheaton, 39-35, and both teams committed eight turnovers.
 
Illinois Wesleyan Statistics, Leaders
Field goal percentage- .421 (24-of-57)
3-point field goal percentage- .381 (8-of-21)
Free throw percentage- .733 (22-of-30)
Junior Jordan Nelson- 16 points
Senior Victor Davis- 15 points, 9 rebounds
 
Wheaton Statistics, Leaders
Field goal percentage- .426 (26-of-61)
3-point field goal percentage- .280 (7-of-25)
Free throw percentage- .632 (12-of-19)
Tyler Peters- 18 points, 4 rebounds
Brayden Teuscher- 12 points, 4 rebounds
 
What's Next?
The Titans will host North Central Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Shirk Center. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m.