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Cody Mitchell vs NCC
Steve Woltmann
78
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 12-11,7-7 CCIW
85
Winner North Central (IL) NCC 12-11,7-8 CCIW
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
12-11,7-7 CCIW
78
Final
85
North Central (IL) NCC
12-11,7-8 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 44 25 9 78
North Central (IL) NCC 30 39 16 85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Stunned in OT at North Central

Titans led by as many as 18

Postgame Interview

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - A big lead got away from the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team as the Titans were upended by North Central College in overtime at Gregory Arena Saturday night, Feb. 11. IWU dips to 12-11 on the season and 7-7 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play with the 85-78  loss, while NCC upped its record to 12-11 (7-8 CCIW).

Lucas Heflen (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) led the Titans with 19 points and a game-high five assists. Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) added a 14 point-10 rebound double-double. Ryan Sroka (Lake-in-the-Hills, Ill.-Huntley) rounded out the Titans double digit scorers with 12 points. 

Illinois Wesleyan burst out to a red-hot offensive effort as the Titans shot 59.4 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes. IWU hit 19-of-32 shots and 5-of-10 three-pointers to claim a 44-30 lead at halftime. 

Heflen paced the Green and White in the early goings, hitting a trio of threes in the first half alone. The senior guard scored 11 of his 19 points in the first half, while Hakim Williams hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to finish the half on a 7-0 IWU run. In all, eight different players scored in a balanced start.

The second half saw the Cardinals turn the tables on the Titans. North Central put together a 25-4 run over an 11-minute stretch to claim a four-point lead, 60-56, with 5:52 to play in regulation.

Illinois Wesleyan responded with an and-one from Heflen and free throws from Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) to grab a slim, 61-60 edge. The Titans boosted their advantage to five, 67-62, with six straight points just minutes later. After free throws from Mitchell and Sroka, Mitchell connected on a jumper at the elbow to give IWU the five-point cushion with 1:29 on the clock.

The Green and White held a three-point lead with four seconds to play in regulation, but NCC's Shea Cupples hit a game-tying shot from just inside halfcourt to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, a 9-0 run over just over one minute, courtesy of the Cardinals, allowed NCC to take control, 83-76. A layup by Sroka pulled IWU within five, but the Titans could not muster anything more as the Cardinals completed the comeback.

Illinois Wesleyan heads to North Park University Wednesday night, Feb. 15, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. 
 
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