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NORMAL, IL - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team squared off against Illinois State University for the first time in more than 50 years Sunday, Oct. 29. IWU fell to ISU, 78-46.(Photo by Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative)
Kodiak Creative
67
Winner Marietta MAR 3-1,0-0 OAC
63
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 2-2,0-0 CCIW
Winner
Marietta MAR
3-1,0-0 OAC
67
Final
63
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
2-2,0-0 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Marietta MAR 37 30 67
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 26 37 63

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Drops Tight Battle with Marietta

Titans conclude Great Lakes Invitational 1-1

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team clawed its way back from a halftime deficit on day two of the Great Lakes Invitational Saturday night, Nov. 18, but came up short against Marietta College, 67-63. IWU slipped to 2-2 on the season, while MC upped its record to 3-1.

Four Titans scored in double figures, with senior Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley) leading the way with 15 points. Senior Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) tallied 12 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds to go along with four assists. Juniors Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) and Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) added 11 and 10 points apiece, respectively.

Illinois Wesleyan shot at a 40.9 percent clip, going 27-for-66 from the field, but went just 6-for-25 from beyond the arc. The Titan defense limited the Pioneers to a 23-of-65 showing from the field and a 7-for-35 effort from long range, but Marietta took advantage of 19 trips to the free throw line, converting 14. IWU converted 3-of-4 free throw opportunities.

The Green and White were outrebounded for the first time this season, as MC held a 39-36 edge on the glass. The Pioneers also finished with a 7-1 lead in blocks and a 17-4 advantage in second chance points. 

Illinois Wesleyan trailed by as many as 13 in the first half but found its stride in the second 20-minute period. A big-to-big action saw junior Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) feed senior Evan Schneider (St. Louis, Mo.-Ladue) for a bucket to get IWU's 11-0 run started. The bucket was followed by a layup from junior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) and a three-ball from Roper to trim the Pioneer lead to four, 39-35, three minutes into the half. 

Yoder cashed in on a steal with a layup in transition and Roper fed Wilmsen to knot the game at 39 with 15:35 on the clock. 

Marietta's four-minute long scoring drought came to a close with back-to-back buckets to put the Pioneers up 44-39. Junior Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central) cut the MC advantage to two twice with a pair of three-pointers, but Marietta maintained its lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

A heady pass from Yoder to Sroka pulled IWU within two, 61-59, with two minutes remaining, but Marietta went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe from the point on to hold off the Titans, 67-63.

Illinois Wesleyan closes out its three-game roadtrip with a Wednesday afternoon bout at Washington University in St. Louis, Nov. 22. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.

 
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