ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – No. 1-ranked Augustana built an 8-0 lead just three minutes into the game, sending the Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team to their third College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin loss by a score of 76-60 at the Carver Center in Rock Island on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
 
The Titans are now 11-12 and 5-7 in the CCIW while Augustana improved to 22-1 and 11-1 in the conference.
 
After falling behind 8-0, the Titans found themselves in deficits of 13-2 and 23-11 before finally cutting the Viking lead to 13 at 38-25 in the first half. Ill. Wesleyan shot only 9-25 from the field while the two teams combined for only four free throws in the half.
 
In the second half, IWU would get within eight points of Augustana at 51-43 with 11:48 remaining before a 16-4 Viking run would give Augustana a 68-47 lead with 6:47 left in the game. The Titans never would close the gap, as the Vikings led wire to wire.
 
Senior Ryan Coyle led IWU with 11 points while Bryce Dolan, who was battling flu-like symptoms, scored 10 points.
 
Augustana had six players in double figures led by 13 points and six assists from Hunter Hill, while Tayvian Johnson went 5-6 from the field to finish with 12 points.
 
The Titans were outrebounded 28-25 in the game and were guilty of 18 turnovers. Ill. Wesleyan scored 34 points from their bench players and netted 19 points off turnovers.
 
What's Next?
A pivotal CCIW contest between the Titans and the Vikings of North Park takes place Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Shirk Center at 7 p.m. Earlier this season in Chicago, North Park mounted an 18 point first half lead en route to an 82-70 victory over the Titans. Saturday's contest is the ninth annual Frontier Communications "Pink Zone" game, which will include a silent auction and raffle. Additionally, the 1996 and 2006 Titan teams that finished third in the nation will be honored at halftime.