Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
MBB | IWU vs Augustana
Kodiak Creative
76
Elmhurst ELM 11-3,3-2 CCIW
80
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 12-2,5-1 CCIW
Elmhurst ELM
11-3,3-2 CCIW
76
Final
80
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
12-2,5-1 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elmhurst ELM 37 39 76
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 39 41 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Comes Back to Knock Off No. 13 Elmhurst

Mitchell’s free throws with 34.8 seconds erase double-digit deficit

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Clutch free throws late lifted the No. 3 Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team over 13th-ranked Elmhurst University, 80-76, Monday afternoon, Jan. 17, inside the Shirk Center. The Titans erased a 10-point deficit as IWU moved to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Elmhurst dropped to 11-3 and 3-2 in the CCIW.

A three-pointer by Elmhurst's Jake Rhode gave the Bluejays a 10-point lead, 58-48, with 10:12 to play. Back-to-back hard nosed layups by junior Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) trimmed the deficit to six and forced a EU timeout with 9:10 to go. 

A three-pointer by senior Peter Lambesis (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) and a jumper by sophomore Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley) were followed by a Yoder and-one to pull the Titans within one, 61-60, with 7:23 remaining. 

Elmhurst ended the 8-0 IWU run on a triple, before Rhode hit another from distance to give the Bluejays a 73-70 with 2:44 left. 

The Titans responded with a layup by Yoder and a pair of free throws by Leritz to stake a 74-73 advantage, but another Bluejay triple gave Elmhurst a 76-74 edge with 1:32 left. 

After corralling an offensive rebound, Leritz found Sroka cutting for a layup to even the score at 76 all. Junior Cody Mitchell (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East) later drew a foul and sank two free throws to propel the Titans ahead, 78-76.

An Elmhurst three-pointer was well-contested by Yoder and the rebound was retrieved by Leritz, who was promptly fouled. The senior forward then put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with five seconds left as IWU completed the comeback, 80-76. 

Yoder and Leritz tied for the team lead with 27 points apiece, marking a career-high for Yoder. Leritz finished off a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds, while he also added three assists, a steal, and a block. Yoder tallied five assists, recorded six rebounds, and notched three steals in a stat-stuffing performance. Sroka also finished in double-figures, scoring a career-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting. 

Illinois Wesleyan put together the seventh-best field goal percentage in program history, as the Titans finished 29-for-45 from the field (64.4 percent). It was the most efficient team shooting percentage since IWU posted a 68.9 clip against Greenville, Nov. 17, 2015. The Green and White connected on 7-of-16 three-point tries, six of which came in the first half, and went 15-for-25 from the free throw line. 

Elmhurst finished 26-for-64 from the floor (40.6 percent), and benefited from a 14-for-30 effort from three-point range. EU also struggled at the free throw line, going just 10-for-18 at the stripe. 

The Titans held a 36-20 lead in points in the paint, an 18-8 lead in fast break points, and a 16-10 edge in bench points. The Bluejays held the upper hand in points off turnovers, 27 to 12, as the Titans committed a season-high 23 turnovers. IWU out-rebounded EU, 35-30, but 14 offensive rebounds gave the Bluejays the advantage in second chance points. 

Illinois Wesleyan continues CCIW play on the road Wednesday night, Jan. 19, as the Titans travel to North Park University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

 
Print Friendly Version