BELTON, Texas - Efficient shooting in the second half saw the ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team come back from a double-digit deficit to defeat LeTourneau University, 85-67, Sunday afternoon, Dec. 29, at Mayborn Campus Center on the campus of University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Titans jumped to 10-1 on the season with the win on day one of the Cru Classic, while the Yellowjackets (10-3) saw a six-game win streak snapped.
After trailing by as many as 10 in the first half, Illinois Wesleyan made 18-of-28 shot attempts (64.3 percent) over the final 20 minutes of play, including a 5-of-12 effort from beyond the arc to claw its way back for the victory.
Senior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) went off for a career-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting with two three-pointers to lead the Titans. Joining Williams in double figures were freshman
Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbard North), senior
Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) and sophomore
Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High). Fridman scored 13 points and led the team with four assists. Funk collected the first double-double of his career with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Anderson contributed 10 points off the bench.
The Green and White were dominant on the boards, earning a 56-23 lead on the glass. Funk's 16 boards led the showing as the sophomore hauled in the most rebounds by a Titan since Matthew Leritz set the program record with 25 caroms at Yeshiva, Dec. 30, 2021. Senior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) added nine caroms, while senior
Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) posted five.
Overall, IWU finished 30-for-62 from the field, good for a 48.4 percent clip, and went 7-for-23 from distance. The Titans converted 18-of-30 free throw attempts. LeTourneau connected on 26-of-64 shot attempts, 6-of-22 three-point tries, and 9-of-18 free throw chances. LU won the turnover battle 19-12, while each team scored 11 points off miscues.
Illinois Wesleyan held leads in bench scoring (29-25), fastbreak scoring (8-6), and points in the paint (42-32). IWU's biggest advantage came on the offensive glass, where the Green and White turned 23 offensive boards into a 28-9 lead in second-chance scoring.
Turnovers and fouls kept the Titans from finding any sort of rhythm in the early going as the Yellowjackets led 10-3 at the 16-minute mark.
Anderson halted an 8-0 LeTourneau run with a layup off the feed from Funk and sophomore Jackson Niego (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) converted a bucket to cut LU's lead to 15-7. Junior
Nathan Boldt (Deer Park, Ill.-Barrington) then found Anderson for a quick score before Williams forced a turnover on the defensive end.
After a three-point attempt rimmed out, the Yellowjackets answered with a four-point play, making a three and a free throw to build a 10-point cushion, 19-9.
Boldt hauled in a key offensive rebound on IWU's next trip down the floor, which eventually turned into a three-pointer from Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central). Fridman followed with an and-one to make it 19-15, LU, out of the under-12 media timeout.
A five-point run that featured a putback by Williams and a trio of free throws drew the Green and White within three, 23-20.
Exceptional defense on the ball by Williams allowed Niego to step in for a steal and take off towards the offensive end. Niego quickly fired ahead to Boldt cutting towards the hoop for a crafty finish, making it a one-point game, 25-24, with roughly six minutes left in the period, but LeTourneau went on to carry a five-point, 40-35, lead into halftime.
Funk hit a three-pointer out of the break to get the Titans going in the second half and Roper followed with a putback to level the score at 40. IWU's strong start to the half continued with a Williams shifty finish at the rim to give the Green and White its first lead of the day, 42-40, into an LU timeout with 17:29 to play.
Funk flew in for an offensive rebound and Bazzell swished a three-ball to drive the Titan advantage to five, 48-43. The defense forced a quick turnover seconds later and cashed in on a Williams triple off the Bazzell assist to extend the lead to eight, 51-43, with 14:39 to play.
Anderson secured a loose ball in the paint and quickly went up with it to give IWU a double-digit lead, 67-57. The Titans never looked back from that point on, leading by as many as 21, eventually coming away with the 18-point victory.
Illinois Wesleyan takes on tournament host Mary Hardin-Baylor tomorrow, Dec. 30, at 4 p.m. inside Mayborn Campus Center.
