Wednesday roundup: Redbird, Titan men fall, Titan women win

Posted on December 5, 2018
Keyshawn Evans and the Illinois State Redbirds host Ole Miss on Saturday. (GoRedbirds.com)

By Greg Halbleib

On Wednesday’s scoreboard presented by COUNTRY Financial Representative Eric Lapan, Illinois State men’s basketball fell on Wednesday in the Windy City while the Illinois Wesleyan men dropped a buzzer-beater at home.

MEN: Illinois-Chicago 94, Illinois State 75 

Illinois-Chicago shot 56 percent from the field and pulled away from Illinois State 94-75 in men’s basketball action on Wednesday evening at Credit Union 1 Arena.

UIC (4-5) led 54-45 at halftime. Jordan Blount led the host Flames with 27 points while Godwin Boahen added 22 points and Michael Diggins contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds. Illinois State (6-4) was led by Milik Yarbrough with 30 points as Josh Jefferson contributed 18 points for the injury-plagued Redbirds.

Illinois State hosts Ole Miss on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on AM 1230 WJBC, 93.7 Nash Icon, WJBC.com and the TuneIn app.

MEN: Wheaton 90, Illinois Wesleyan 88

After Illinois Wesleyan turned the ball over with five seconds remaining and a one-point lead, Wheaton’s Aston Francis nailed a three-pointer at the top of the key to give the Thunder a 90-88 win at Shirk Center and hand the Titans their first loss.

Francis led Wheaton (6-2, 1-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) with 27 points while Nyameye Adom contributed 14 points, Kobe Eichelberger 12, Luke Peters 11 and Tyson Cruickshank 10. Illinois Wesleyan (7-1, 1-1) was paced by 21 points from Jason Gregoire and 17 points from Brady Rose.

WOMEN: Illinois Wesleyan 81, Elmhurst 61

Maddie Merritt led four Titans in double-figure scoring with 17 points in the road victory. Raven Hughes and Sydney Shanks scored 11 points each and Ashley Schneider recorded 10 points in the winning effort. Illinois Wesleyan improves to 7-2 and 2-0 in the CCIW while Elmhurst falls to 3-4 and 0-1.

Both IWU squads visit Augustana on Saturday with the women tipping off at 5 p.m. and the men at 7 p.m.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]. 

 

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