Game Notes: (MBK) Illinois Wesleyan University @ North Central College (2/6/19)

Final Score
IWU 72, NCC 64

Game Summary
This one started as many games at Gregory Arena are wont to do, as the Cardinals (18-4, 10-3) scored on the opening possession to grab the early lead. But the Titans (14-8, 7-6) followed that up with back to back triples to take control before the game went into seesaw mode. The Cardinals led 18-13 halfway through the frame before the Titans worked their way back. The teams traded leads a few more times before the Cardinals went on a little roll to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room. But this time it was the Titans who came out of the break strong, opening the second half on a 13-2 run and would push their lead as high as seven. The Cardinals hung around though, getting within one with about six minutes to go and back within two with four and a half to play. But a fast break layup pushed it back to four, and after a pair of free throws cut the lead in half again, the Titans got another layup to pretty much put the game away and clinch a CCIW Tournament berth.

Key Players

• Doug Wallen (IWU): 6-11 FG (2-4 3PT); 14 pts, 12 reb (1 off), 1 ast, 1 stl. I don't know if I want to call this a "breakout" game for the sophomore, but considering he came in averaging 6.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, it might have been. His shooting stroke seemed a little weird when he fired, but he was effective both inside and out.
• Brady Rose (IWU): 5-13 FG (3-8 3PT), 3-4 FT; 16 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl. The fifth year senior put on a nice show in his final trip to Naperville, hitting that early pair of threes to get the Titans going and set the tone. Chipping in on the glass and distributing the ball helped too.
• Tommy Koth (NCC): 8-15 FG (5-9 3PT), 3-5 FT; 24 pts, 6 reb (2 off), 1 blk, 3 stl. The Legend of Tommy Koth: Titan Killer was nearly extended last night. After he killed the Titans in Bloomington back in January, he had another monster performance despite not getting left wide open by Alex O'Neill on three straight possessions again. He chipped in on defense as well, but fouled out late. Alas.

Key Stats

• NCC: Last field goal with 4:34 remaining. Originally I was going to put North Central's three point shooting down on here, but I feel like I do that every time, and while those percentages (7-24 for the game, 2-13 in the second half) play a role, the fact that North Central managed just two free throws in that four and a half minute span just isn't going to get it done. Credit the Titans for playing good defense.
• IWU: 13-15 FT (86.7%). When these two teams met in Bloomington, the Titans went 16-23 at the stripe in a game where they led by eight with two minutes to play and went on to lose. Last night they made sure it didn't happen with some clutch shots at the stripe late: the team went 12-13 in the second half at the line. Good teams know how to close out, and after some mid season hiccups, the Titans might be finding their stride again.

CCIW Scoreboard Watch

• @ AUG 93 (21-2, 13-1), WHE 83 (16-7, 9-5)
• Augustana has clinched the #1 seed in the CCIW Tournament
• ELM 91 (12-10, 7-6), @ NPU 64 (4-18, 2-11)
• Elmhurst has clinched a CCIW Tournament berth
• North Park has been eliminated from the CCIW Tournament
• @ CRL 60 (10-13, 6-8), CAR 57 (7-15, 2-11)
• Carthage has been eliminated from the CCIW Tournament
• Bye: MIL (10-11, 4-9)
• WBK: NCC 60 (7-15, 5-8), @ CAR 58 (14-8, 8-5)
• North Central wins at Carthage for the first time since February 11, 2006
• Based on other results, Carthage has clinched a CCIW Tournament berth

Final Thoughts

You might remember from last year's contest that I had my first experience of a player vaulting over the table when Jason Gregoire's momentum from chasing a loose ball brought him between me and SID Clark Teuscher and took out Clark's chair. I went to talk to Jason postgame and jokingly thanked him for not doing so again this year. He responded that he was glad he didn't have to go over. During the game he was pretty fired up, yelling at the table about the officials, but flipped a switch postgame and couldn't have been nicer.

To be fair, Gregoire may have had a point, as both coaches were clearly upset with the officiating. At the halftime buzzer, Ron Rose ran out almost to midcourt to complain, but Todd Raridon was in their ears all night as well. All told, I don't think the crew was too bad, and it clearly didn't impact the outcome. North Central's offense went cold in the final four and a half minutes, and credit the Titans for making enough plays down the stretch to win.

The Cardinals have been playing with fire to some degree for much of the season. They had to come back from down 13 at halftime to beat Elmhurst a few weeks back, needed the aforementioned late rally to beat the Titans in Bloomington, and needed some miraculous shots to beat Millikin down in Decatur. Eventually, regression to the mean was going to hit. It's just unfortunate it had to be last night.

Big picture though, this one hurts. Earlier in the day the Cardinals had been ranked third in the Central region, and to drop a game immediately after that is going to push the Cardinals closer to the bubble. It also gets the Titans better position in the CCIW race, something I'll touch more on next week when there's just a single game left.

The Cardinals have to put this one behind them quick, because Aston Francis and Wheaton are coming to town, and with Senior Night on the docket, emotions will be high for this critical game.