Illinois Wesleyan falls in wire-to-wire action against Augustana

 

Illinois Wesleyan defenders swarm around an Augustana player as the Vikings defeated IWU on Wednesday in Rock Island. (Photo by WJBC)

By Blake Haas

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.  – First half foul troubles forced the No. 14 Illinois Wesleyan Titans (16-3, 9-1) to fall to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe No. 9 Augustana (15-4, 7-3) at Roy J. Carver Center for Physical Education.

The Augies pounded the Titans in the first half, outscoring the Titans 41-35 at halftime stealing the 88-79 victory. IWU took the momentum into the locker room backed behind a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from junior guard Colin Bonnett, who finished with 21 points.

The Titans came out firing on all cylinders quickly diminishing the Augies lead. Senior guard Brady Rose drilled a jumper with 6:38 left in the second half to bring the Titans within one 61-60. IWU quickly ran into foul trouble down the stretch to force wire-to-wire action into the final minutes.

IWU’s foul trouble forced the No. 14 Titans to fall to No. 9 Augustana 88-79.

The Titans were led by junior guard Colin Bonnett with 21 points and dished out two assists in the loss. Junior Jason Gregoire chipped in a career-high 18 points.

IWU returns to Shirk Center on Wednesday to take on Wheaton College (13-6, 6-4) at 7 p.m.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…