Cold-shooting Titans falter in CCIW Tournament

Posted on February 23, 2018
Illinois Wesleyan basketball
Illinois Wesleyan fell to North Central in the CCIW Tournament semfinals on Friday in Rock Island. (Photo by WJBC)

By Eric Stock

ROCK ISLAND – Two losses in the final week of the season have Illinois Wesleyan sweating it out for an NCAA at-large bid.

The No. 15 Titans failed to overcome a cold shooting night in losing for the second time in four days to North Central, 70-64, in the semifinals of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament at the Roy J. Carver Center.

IWU (19-7) jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but managed just two baskets in the next 12:42 as NCC (19-7) grabbed a 23-12 lead on a Tommy Koth jumper. The Cardinals extended the lead to 37-21 at 17:17 of the second half on a Koth three-pointer.

The Titans clawed to within 49-45 on Alex O’Neill’s layup with 7:17 to go, but IWU went cold down the stretch.

The Titans were led by O’Neill’s 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brady Rose scored 10 points on 4-for-21 field goal shooting.

IWU will find out on Monday if it will receive an NCAA Division III Pool C bid.

Eric Stock 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…