Box Score

LISLE, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team was outscored 14-8 in the final 7:47 and lost a 61-60 decision in the season opener at Benedictine's Rice Center in Lisle, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 15.
 
It is the first season-opening loss for an Illinois Wesleyan team since the 2001-02 opener, a 74-72 loss to Concordia (Wis.) in a tournament at Ripon. That was also the last time an IWU team started out 0-2.

In a game that saw 13 lead changes, the Titans held a 52-47 lead with 7:47 to play but the Eagles battled back to tie the game at 57-57 with 2:24 to play. After Benedictine took a 59-57 lead, a 3-pointer by senior Jordan Nelson staked IWU to a 60-59 lead. But the Eagles got a layup from Adam Reynolds with 1:09 to go, putting Benedictine ahead 61-60 with the last points scored in the game.
 
Benedictine led by as many as eight points on three occasions in the first half, including 31-23, but Illinois Wesleyan battled back and trailed by only two at intermission, 31-29. Benedictine held a 37-34 rebound advantage and IWU was guilty of 15 turnovers to 16 for the Eagles.
 
"They took the fight to us and earned this win," IWU head coach Ron Rose said in a postgame radio interview with WJBC's Eric Stock. "I am beside myself on how poorly we played. We had a lot of unforced turnovers and a lot of times I didn't think we played with a lot of purpose. For whatever reason, we looked tentative on the court. We certainly will work on that and will keep working to get better."
 
Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage- .390 (23-of-59)
3-point field goal percentage- .250 (6-of-24)
Free throw percentage- .615 (8-of-13)
Senior Dylan Overstreet- 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Junior Bryce Dolan- 15 points
Nelson - 11 points
 
Benedictine Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage- .469 (23-of-49)
3-point field goal percentage- .500 (4-of-8)
Free throw percentage- .579 (11-of-19)
Tahron Harvey - 13 points
Mack Brown- 11 points
Mivchael Blaszcyzk - 10 points, 8 rebounds
 
Who's Next?
The Titans will travel to Jacksonville, Ill., to face Buena Vista in the Illinois College Bill Merris Invitational on Friday (Nov. 21) at 5:30 p.m. IWU will play either the host school or Rockford College on Saturday at 2 or 4 p.m.