GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Aaron Garriott scored 20 points to lead the Thunder.
Bloomington, Ill. – The Wheaton men's basketball team lost in overtime to Illinois Wesleyan, 87-77 on Wednesday night in the opening conference game of the season for both teams. Wheaton (9-3/0-1 CCIW), ranked 23rd in Division III this week by D3hoops.com, will remain on the road on Saturday night for a 7:30 PM tipoff at Elmhurst College.
Wheaton led 17-16 with 10:41 remaining in the first half when the Thunder scored four unanswered to extend its lead to 21-16. The guests held a 36-33 lead at halftime.
Wheaton led 47-42 with 14:30 left in the second half when the Titans responded with an 11-3 run to take a 53-50 lead with 9:50 left in regulation. A pair of Eliud Gonzalez free throws with 2:50 left in regulation gave the Titans a 70-67 lead.
Wheaton's #Tim McCrary blocked a shot and collected the rebound on the defensive end with 1:20 left in the second half and 10-seconds later he scored a basket to cut the Titans' lead to 70-69 with 1:05 left in regulation. Illinois Wesleyan made one of two free throw attempts with 45-seconds left to hold a 71-69 lead. Thunder senior
Aaron Garriott was fouled on a drive to the basket with 4.6-seconds left in regulation. He made both free throws to tie the game at 71-71, which would send the game to overtime. The Titans out-scored the Thunder 16-6 in the extra session to secure the win.
Garriott scored a team-high 20 points for the Thunder, adding six rebounds, with three assists. McCrary tallied a “double-double” with 18 points and 11 rebounds, also adding three assists and three blocked shots. Senior forward
Spencer Schultze (PICTURED LEFT) contributed 15 points, with eight rebounds and junior
Nate Serenius scored 14 points off the Thunder bench.
Nate Haynes recorded six rebounds for the guests.
Jordan Zimmer led Illinois Wesleyan with 26 points and Stephen Rudnicki scored 14 points, with three assists. Guard Eliud Gonzalez scored 11 points with five assists.
Wheaton shot 45.3% (29-64) from the field, with 15% (2-13) from three-point range and 68% (17-25) at the free throw line. The Titans shot 40.3% (27-67) from the floor, with 33.3% (7-21) from three-point range and a 68.4% (26-38) at the free throw line. Wheaton out-rebounded the Titans 45-43, with IWU holding a 17-14 edge on the offensive glass.
