Titans keep postseason hopes alive with win over North Park

Posted on February 13, 2016
Trevor Seibring scored 12 points in Illinois Wesleyan's 87-79 win over North Park on Saturday. (Photo by WJBC)
Trevor Seibring scored 12 points in Illinois Wesleyan’s 87-79 win over North Park on Saturday. (Photo by WJBC)

By Nick McClintock

BLOOMINGTON- The Illinois Wesleyan Titans remain in the hunt for a CCIW Tournament berth, after a dominating win Saturday night over North Park 87-79.

The game quickly went in favor of the Titans, with Brian Nelms hitting the first shot of the game. That shot would lead to a surge of momentum that would quickly put the Titans out by 10, at 16-6 within the first six minutes of the game.

North Park would then put up the next five points to drop the lead to 16-11 before IWU could break the streak. North Park would only allow a few more baskets for the Titans before going on another run, this time an 8-0 run that would put the Vikings within one at 20-19.

After that, it was Illinois Wesleyan’s turn to go on a run, an 8-0 advantage that would balloon to 18-2 over the course of five minutes of game action to make it 38-21 with three minute till the half. The rest of the half calmed down for both teams, but IWU would increase their lead to 42-27 at the halftime break.

The second half would start well for the Vikings, hitting the first bucket, but the next 12 points would go in favor of the Titans to put IWU up by 25 in the first four minutes of the half.

The Vikings wouldn’t go away without a fight, quickly knocking down the lead as little as 16 a several points, but the Titans shooting attack was too strong for North Park. The Vikings would get as close as nine with a minute to go, but Illinois Wesleyan would again put the game out of reach with key free throws and an Alec Bausch lay in.

Illinois Wesleyan shot 55% from the field, with four Titans getting into double figures. IWU was led by Bryce Dolan and Joel Pennington, each with with 15.

LISTEN TO MEN’S HEAD COACH RON ROSE AND BRIAN NELMS

 

LISTEN TO WOMEN’S HEAD COACH MIA SMITH

BLOOMINGTON- The Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team outscored North Park by five in the final period to post a 63-55 win over the Vikings on “Pink Zone” night at the Shirk Center on Saturday, Feb. 13. The Titans improved to 15-9 overall and are 10-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Vikings are now 16-8 overall and fell to 7-6 in the conference.

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