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Cody Mitchell at Linfield
Linfield Athletics
76
Winner Illinois Wesleyan IWU 9-8,
68
Linfield LIN-M 6-11, 3-5 NWC
Winner
Illinois Wesleyan IWU
9-8,
76
Final
68
Linfield LIN-M
6-11, 3-5 NWC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 36 40 76
Linfield LIN-M 28 40 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Depth Shines in Win Over Wildcats

Season-high six players score in double-figures

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - A strong all-around performance, which saw six players score in double figures, led the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team to a 76-68 win at Linfield University Monday night, Jan. 23. IWU boosted its record to 9-8 on the season with the win, while LU's record dropped to 6-11.

Senior Lucas Heflen (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) poured in 17 points, all of which came in the second half, on 6-of-10 shooting. The senior co-captain hit 5-of-8 three-point attempts, while adding three assists, two steals, and a block. 

Joining him in double figures were sophomore Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central), fellow senior Cody Mitchell (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East), junior Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley), and sophomore Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory). Bazzell went for 14 points, aided by four triples, while Williams and Mitchell finished with 12 points apiece. Mitchell completed the double-double with 13 rebounds. Sroka added 11 points and tied Williams for the team-lead with four assists. Wilmsen rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points off the bench.

The Titans turned in one of their stronger offensive performances, finishing the game 26-for-56 (46.4 percent) from the floor and 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from three-point range. IWU went 12-for-17 at the free throw line. Linfield shot the ball at a 43.6 percent clip overall (24-for-55). The Wildcats converted 10-of-34 three-pointers, including eight triples in the second half. 

The Green and White finished with a 39-27 rebounding advantage, highlighted by a 12-4 advantage on the offensive glass. The Wildcats won the turnover battle 16-11, fueled by 10 steals.

Illinois Wesleyan got out to a bit of a slow start as Linfield opened up a 12-9 lead six minutes in. Heflen delivered an entry pass into the post, where Wilmsen converted the bucket to get IWU's offense rolling. Williams connected with Bazzell and Sroka for back-to-back triples. 

Sroka capped the 10-0 run by the Titans with an assist to Mitchell, pushing IWU ahead by seven, 19-12.

A free throw with 7:50 to go in the half gave Linfield its first point in more than six minutes as the Wildcats clawed their way back. LU got within as few as five on three separate occasions, but each time IWU had an answer.

A deep three-pointer from Bazzell and a pair of free throws from Mitchell extended IWU's lead to double-digits, 31-21, with 4:12 remaining in the period.

The Green and White tacked on a few free throws to keep pace with the Wildcats over the final few minutes of the half, and Mitchell knocked down a mid-range jumper to secure a first-half double-double, as Illinois Wesleyan went to the break with a 36-28 lead.

The Titans used a hot start to the second half to break the game open and grab a 44-30 lead behind an 8-2 run over the first 1:43 of the period. The quick start, which saw back-to-back three-pointers from Heflen and Williams, was followed by 10 straight points by the Wildcats.

With Linfield back within four, Heflen responded with a triple, but the Wildcats used a five-point spurt to trim the lead to two.

A heady pass from Wilmsen led to a three-pointer from Bazzell, ending a two-minute IWU scoring drought, with 13:54.

Freshman Nathan Boldt's (Deer Park, Ill.-Barrington) steal led to a bucket by Williams and gave Illinois Wesleyan a 60-50 lead with 9:46 remaining.

The Wildcats had one more big push left, as a layup and three-pointer pulled Linfield back within four, 69-65, with 2:14 on the clock.

Mitchell kicked to Heflen for a three-ball before Williams scored four points in the final 15 seconds to give IWU a 76-68 victory.

Illinois Wesleyan has a quick turnaround as the Titans meet George Fox University tomorrow, Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and will mark the final non-conference game of the season for the Green and White.


 
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