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#23 Cody Mitchell
Kodiak Creative
56
Wis.-La Crosse UWL 21-7,9-5 WIAC
65
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 23-5,14-2 CCIW
Wis.-La Crosse UWL
21-7,9-5 WIAC
56
Final
65
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
23-5,14-2 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wis.-La Crosse UWL 28 28 56
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 27 38 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

No. 7 Titans Advance to Sweet Sixteen with Gritty Win Over No. 14 UW-La Crosse

Titan to host sectional March 11-12, play Wheaton Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Updated NCAA Bracket

Postgame Press Conference

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team grinded out a defensive battle with 14th-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Saturday night, March 5, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. The Titans (23-6), who are now the all-time leader in NCAA Division III men's basketball wins with 56, will face a familiar foe in No. 18 Wheaton College Friday, March 11, at the Shirk Center for a 7:30 p.m. 

A defensive battle saw the score knotted at 39 as the under-16 media timeout rolled around with 13:09 to go in the second half. Free throws by senior Cory Noe (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet-Seymour) and junior Cody Mitchell (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East) gave IWU its first lead since the 2:40 mark of the first half. 

A corner three followed by two free throws by junior Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) lifted Illinois Wesleyan's advantage to five, but the Eagles clawed back within one, 52-51, at the media timeout with 5:30 remaining.

Out of the reset a nearly-picked pass was corralled by Noe, who sunk a corner three to put IWU's cushion at four, 55-51, into the final media. 

The three-ball continued to fall for the Titans from there, as Mitchell hit another before senior Matthew Leritz (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University HS) drilled a triple with 48.2 seconds to play. The three-pointer by Leritz off a kickback from Noe proved to be the dagger as the Green and White closed out the contest at the charity stripe. Sophomore Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley), Mitchell, and senior Peter Lambesis (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-St. Viator) hit free throws down the stretch to send the Titans into the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2014.

With Leritz in foul trouble much of the game, the Titans turned to Mitchell and freshman Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) in the post. Up to the task, Mitchell continued his torrid streak with a team-high 15 points, while also adding nine rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a block. Yoder added 13 points, four assists, and four rebounds, while Noe tallied 10 points and five rebounds. Lambesis finished with a near double-double, recording eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The defensive bout saw UWL hit 40.7 percent of its shots (24-for-59), but the Eagles went just 3-for-15 from the three-point line and 5-for-12 at the free throw line. Meanwhile, IWU connected on 9-of-26 triples (34.6 percent) while going 19-for-55 (34.5 percent) from the field. Illinois Wesleyan was incredibly efficient at the free throw line, going 18-for-22, to secure the win. 

Both teams pulled in 39 rebounds, with 11 offensive boards. The Titans won the turnover battle 11-9, which turned into an 11-6 edge in points off turnovers for the Green and White. Illinois Wesleyan also held a 6-0 advantage in fast break points, while UW-La Crosse earned a 32-20 lead on points in the paint, a 15-7 edge in second chance points, and led in bench scoring, 16-11.

Illinois Wesleyan will meet a familiar foe in CCIW rival Wheaton next week, March 11, in the Sweet Sixteen. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in the second of two games at the Shirk Center. The sectional pod will also feature Wabash College and Williams College, who will square off at 4:30 p.m.


 
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