
By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Wesleyan consistently frustrated one of the most explosive teams in Division III in handing a decisive 72-54 defeat to Chicago in a non-conference game at Shirk Center.
The No. 18 Titans held the Maroons 36 points below its season average. Chicago entered the game shooting a DIII best 55 percent from the field but was limited to 37 percent.
PODCAST: Listen to the postgame interviews with IWU coach Ron Rose and junior Jaylen Beasley .
IWU (8-2) ended a first half which included 10 ties by scoring the final nine points, including an Andy Stempel bank shot from beyond half court at the buzzer.
Jaylen Beasley led the Titans with 15 points. Brady Rose added 12. The Titans connected on 11 of 22 from 3-point range and shot 49 percent from the floor.
Chicago (8-2), whose only prior loss was to nationally-ranked North Park, was led by Blaine Crawford’s 15 points and 16 rebounds.
The Titans take their longest break of the season before opening the Staten Island Tournament vs. Middlebury on Dec. 29.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].