Marko Anderson on defense against Illinois State Oct. 29, 2023

Kodiak Creative

Titans Hang Tough with Huskies

Titans trailed by three midway through second half

11/1/2023 10:15:00 PM

DEKALB, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team competed in its second and final exhibition of the preseason Wednesday night, Nov. 1. The Titans held their own with NCAA Division I Northern Illinois University, but the Huskies held off the Green and White, 81-64.

Senior Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley) led a balanced offensive effort for the Titans with a team-high 11 points. Juniors Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) and Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central) along with senior Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) scored nine points apiece, while senior Evan Schneider (St. Louis, Mo.-Laude) added seven points.

Junior Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill-Maine South) was IWU's leading rebounder with eight caroms. Roper, Bazzell, and junior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) finished with three assists each.

Illinois Wesleyan fell behind early as Northern Illinois took a 43-32 lead into halftime, but the Titans came out with a newfound fire in the second period.

The Titans saw Bazzell drill back-to-back threes before Roper hit a pull-up at the logo to cut the deficit to three, 43-40.

The Huskies used a run of their own to charge ahead 52-46, but the Green and White came right back. With NIU expecting another three to fly, Bazzell shot faked and kicked to Sroka for a triple to bring IWU back within a bucket, 52-49.

The Titans ran out of steam from there, as Northern Illinois held a 63-54 lead at the under-eight media timeout before downing Illinois Wesleyan, 81-64.

IWU officially opens the season as host of the third annual Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11. The Titans take on Ohio Wesleyan University Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.

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