By Nick McClintock
ROCK ISLAND- A matchup with the number one team in the country is never an easy task, as the Illinois Wesleyan Titans found out Wednesday night against the Augustana Vikings. The Vikings dispatched the Titans 76-60 in CCIW action in Rock Island.
The game started ominously for the Titans, as the Vikings were able to put up eight points before Trevor Seibring could put up a quick jumper to make the score 8-2. That run would eventually balloon to 13-2 for Augustana before the first two minutes were in the books. The first half would basically equate to one large run for the Vikings, as they would hold a double digit lead for the final 17 minutes of the half.
The Titans did themselves no favors from the field in the first half, shooting just 36 percent from the field, compared to 55 percent from the Vikings, including going 6-11 from behind the arc. Heading into the locker room at halftime, Augustana led the Titans 38-25.
The second half would begin much better for the Titans, as Illinois Wesleyan would drop the Viking lead to single digits in the first three minutes of the period. The Titans run would not be as long lived as the Augustana run was in the first half. The Vikings would put the lead back into double digits for good by the 15:00 mark of the half. Despite the quick start for IWU, the game would spiral a bit out of control for the Titans late, leading to the final score.
The Titans were led by Ryan Coyle with 11. The loss drops the Titans to 11-12, and 5-7 in the CCIW. The loss is also the third consecutive for IWU.
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