ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- Firing at only 33.8 per cent from the field, the No. 15-ranked Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team fell behind early and could never recover in suffering a 70-64 setback to North Central in the semifinals of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament in Rock Island, Ill., on Friday, Feb. 23.

The Titans are 19-7 overall and will await possible postseason fate when the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Selection Show airs on Monday, Feb. 26 at 11:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.

Illinois Wesleyan went from the 10:07 mark in the first half to 4:13 without scoring, falling behind 23-12 and trailing 30-19 at halftime. The Cardinals jumped out to a 16 point lead with 17:17 remaining (36-19) but the Titans clawed back to within four points by the 8:29 mark, 47-43 after a Jaylen Beasley 3-pointer. IWU was also within four at 63-59 with 36 seconds to play but could get no closer.

The field goal mark of 33.8 (22 of 65) is the second lowest by an IWU team this year as the Titans shot 32.2 percent in a loss at Emory on Dec. 28.

Sophomore Alex O'Neill had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and junior Colin Bonnett added 13 points. Jason Gregoire knocked in three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and junior Brady Rose had 10 points but endured a rough night from the field, going 4 for 21 without a 3-pointer.

Illinois Wesleyan outrebounded North Central 38-35 and the Titans committed only eight turnovers to 10 for the Cardinals. The Titans made 11 of 12 free throw tries.

North Central, who beat IWU twice in four days, improved to 19-7. The Cardinals were led by the 21 points and 16 rebounds of Alex Sorenson. Connor Raridon added 14 points while Aiden Chang scored 13 and Matt Cappalletti had 10.