Illinois Wesleyan finds friendly rim in home win over Millikin

Posted on January 17, 2018

Colin Bonnett finished with 11 points in Illinois Wesleyan’s win over Millikin on Wednesday at Shirk Center. (Photo by WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – It took Shirk Center crews about 30 minutes to replace a cracked rim at one of the baskets before the Illinois Wesleyan basketball game with Millikin. And it took the Titans a little longer than that to get comfortable.

Wesleyan shot 44 percent from the field while shooting at the new rim in the first half, but fired at a 55 percent clip in the second half at the old rim on the opposite end as IWU stormed past Millikin in the second half for a 78-62 victory in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game.

PODCAST: Listen to the postgame interview with IWU coach Ron Rose.

Millikin (8-8, 1-6 in CCIW) led 43-39 as Zach Fisher hit back-to-back threes early in the second half before IWU answered with 11 straight points, which included three-pointers by Zach Knobloch and Brady Rose. Rose later stretched the lead to 66-53 with 5:45 to go.

Rose led the Titans with 30 points and six assists. Alex O’Neill added a team-high 10 rebounds to go with 13 points.

The Titans (13-3, 6-1) visit Carroll on Saturday afternoon.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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