NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team was defeated by 18th-ranked North Central College, 82-69, in a College Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois match up at Gregory Arena, Jan. 8. With the loss, the Titans fall to 9-5 overall with a CCIW record of 3-2. The Cardinals improved their record to 11-3 (4-1 CCIW).

Sophomore Cory Noe (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet-Seymour HS) had a team-high 21 points off the bench for the Titans on 4-for-5 shooting from three-point range and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. Junior Charlie Bair (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South HS) and Lambesis scored 14 points each. Freshman Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic HS) led all Titans with six assists.

IWU held the advantage in bench points (23-18), points off turnovers (17-13), and second chance points (14-11) over North Central while the Cardinals outscored the Titans in the paint, 30-26.

North Central used an 8-0 run over a two-minute span to jump ahead by seven, 17-10, and force an Illinois Wesleyan timeout with 13:27 to go in the first half. The break proved timely as back-to-back buckets by sophomore Peter Lambesis (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-St. Viator HS) pulled the Titans within three, 17-14.

The Cardinals' shooting woes continued as the two teams played to a 20-20 tie with just over seven minutes on the clock, but NCC doubled IWU up down the stretch to take a 34-27 edge into the break.

After trailing by as many as 22 in the second half, Illinois Wesleyan battled back within single digits but could not get any closer, falling 82-69.

Illinois Wesleyan is back in action inside the Shirk Center next Wednesday, Jan. 15, against North Park University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Additionally, the Titans will recognize the 50th anniversary of the last game in a storied rivalry between IWU and neighboring Illinois State University.