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Men’s Hoops Holds Its Own at DePaul

Three Titans hit double digits in points

10/27/2024 8:28:00 PM

CHICAGO - The highly anticipated Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball season got underway Sunday evening, Oct. 27, with an exhibition game at Big East Conference member DePaul University. The Titans went toe-to-toe with the Division I Blue Demons, eventually falling, 76-60.

Illinois Wesleyan hit 25-of-63 shots from the floor, good for a 40 percent showing, while DePaul finished 28-for-72 from the field against a stingy Titan defense. IWU went 5-for-16 from distance to the Blue Demons' 8-of-29 showing.

Despite giving up a relatively large size advantage, the Green and White finished with a 6-2 advantage in blocked shots. Senior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) led the Titans with two rejections, while adding a trio of assists and three rebounds. He was one of three Titans to finish in double figures.

IWU was led in scoring by senior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) with 13 points, while sophomore Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) and Williams added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) contributed eight points and four boards, while senior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) pulled in a team-high five boards. Sophomore Jackson Niego (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) went for five points and five assists.

The Titans won the jump by way of Roper, but both teams missed on their opening possession. Niego fed Williams for a layup to crack the scoreboard at the 19:04 mark for the evening's first points. After snagging an offensive rebound, Williams found a wide-open Funk beyond the arc, who drained the shot at the wing to tie the game at 7-7 with 16:45 left on the clock in the first.

IWU continued to battle as freshman Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) hit Anderson for an easy jumper to keep IWU within eight, 31-23.

Niego caused a turnover for the Green and White and IWU capitalized on the steal as Roper sunk a jumper in the paint to open the second half, and trim the deficit to single digits, 43-35.

A hook shot from Wilmsen, free throws by junior Nathan Boldt (Deer Park, Ill.-Barrington), and a turnaround jumper by freshman Alex Miller (Woodridge, Ill.-Downers Grove North) capped the scoring as Illinois Wesleyan fell, 76-60.

The Green and White travel to Indianapolis this Wednesday, Oct. 30, for its final preseason tuneup as the Titans take on Division I Butler University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.

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