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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team outrebounded the taller Division I University of Illinois squad but lost the battle on the scoreboard, 83-67, in an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 2, before a crowd of more than 13,000 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

The Titans were led by the 16 points from sophomore Charlie Bair and 14 points by senior Brady Rose, who led IWU with six rebounds. Illinois Wesleyan held a 34-30 rebounding edge over the Fighting Illini.

"It's a confidence booster," Illinois Wesleyan coach Ron Rose said Lee Newspapers reporter Joey Wagner. "No one pressures like Illinois at the Division I level, much less our [Division III] level. We turned it over and got a little quick with the ball at times, but at the same time, I thought we really competed. When we get back to our level I think it's going to bode well for us."

The Illini shot .438 (28-64) from the field and made 8 of 23 3-point tries (.438). Illinois was 19 of 27 from the free throw line while the Titans shot only four free throws in the game, making two.
IWU was 26 of 54 (.481) from the field and connected on 13 of 25 from 3-range (.520).

Junior Andres Feliz scored 20 points, making 8-of-12 from the field in 24 minutes, to lead the Fighting Illini while sophomore Trent Frazier added 19 points with three 3-pointers. Freshman Ayo Dosunmu chipped in 13 points in his first game in an Illinois uniform.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan opens its regular season at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Shirk Center against the University of Chicago.