News Release

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Carthage College men’s basketball team (4-8, 0-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) opened its CCIW-schedule on Saturday, Jan. 7 with a near-upset of No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan University (11-1, 1-1 CCIW), losing an 80-79 game at the Carthage Physical Education Center in Kenosha, Wis. Carthage had an eight-point lead in the first half, 35-27, at 7:08. The Titans closed out the half with an 18-9 run to take a one-point lead at the break, 45-44. The game stayed close the entire second half, with nine ties and Illinois Wesleyan leading by no more than five points, 72-67, at 6:58. Trailing by four points, 77-73, Carthage’s Kyle Jeffery hit a three-pointer at 2:18 to make it a one-point game, 77-76. The Titans’ Cory Jones made the back end of a two-shot free throw to make it 78-76 at 1:23. Jones made another back-end free throw at 1:13 to put IWU up by three, 79-76. The Red Men’s Malik Imani connected on a three-pointer, his seventh of the game, with 46 seconds remaining to tie the score at 79-79. Carthage’s Brian Schlemm fouled Keelan Amelianovich with 38 seconds to go, with Schlemm fouling out of the game. Amelianovich also made the back end of a two-shot free throw to put the Titans up by a point, 80-79. Jeffery missed a layup with 19 seconds remaining. Evan Guay got the offensive rebound, and coach Bosko Djurickovic called timeout with 13 seconds on the clock. Jeffery missed a jumper from the left side with one second left. The Titans shot 54 percent (27-50), while the Red Men shot 46 percent (30-65). Amelianovich led Illinois Wesleyan with 16 points, Chris Jones had 15, Cory Jones 14 with seven rebounds, Zach Freeman 14, and Adam Dauksas added 10 points with five assists. Jeffery led the Red Men with 25 points on 10-of-18 field goals, including four-of-10 three-pointers. Imani had 21 points on seven-of-12 field goals, all from three-point range, along with five assists, while Schlemm added 13 points. Carthage guard Scott Hood missed the game with an ankle injury suffered in practice on Jan. 6. Carthage travels to Elmhurst, Ill., on Wednesday, Jan. 11 to play Elmhurst College (8-5, 0-2 CCIW) at R.A. Faganel Hall (7:30 p.m.).

Newspaper Box Score
Illinois Wesleyan vs Carthage
1-7-06 7:30 p.m. at Kenosha, Wis./Carthage PEC
At Kenosha, Wis./Carthage PEC
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 80, CARTHAGE 79
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN (11-1, 1-1 CCIW)
Amelianovich, Keelan 5-11 3-4 16; Jones, Chris 6-6 3-6 15; Jones, Cory 4-6
6-10 14; Freeman, Zach 4-7 6-6 14; Dauksas, Adam 4-10 0-0 10; Gilmore,
Andrew 2-7 0-0 6; Fisher, Jason 1-2 0-0 3; Schweer, Steve 1-1 0-0 2. Totals
27-50 18-26 80.
CARTHAGE (4-8, 0-1 CCIW)
Jeffery, Kyle 10-18 1-3 25; Imani, Malik 7-12 0-0 21; Schlemm, Brian 5-11
3-5 13; Johnson, Keena 4-5 0-2 8; Franciskovic, Neb 3-4 0-1 6; Brown,
Casanova 0-1 2-2 2; Guay, Evan 0-2 2-2 2; Thompson, Navarro 1-4 0-0 2;
Jacklin, Billy 0-1 0-0 0; Morrison, Mark 0-6 0-0 0; Lee, Chris 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 30-65 8-15 79.
Illinois Wesleyan.............   45   35  -   80
Carthage......................   44   35  -   79
3-point goals-Illinois Wesleyan 8-18 (Amelianovich, Keelan 3-7; Gilmore,
Andrew 2-4; Dauksas, Adam 2-6; Fisher, Jason 1-1), Carthage 11-32 (Imani,
Malik 7-12; Jeffery, Kyle 4-10; Guay, Evan 0-1; Thompson, Navarro 0-1;
Morrison, Mark 0-3; Schlemm, Brian 0-5). Fouled out--Illinois Wesleyan-None,
Carthage-Schlemm, Brian. Rebounds-Illinois Wesleyan 39 (Gilmore, Andrew 8),
Carthage 25 (Johnson, Keena 6). Assists-Illinois Wesleyan 18 (Dauksas, Adam
5), Carthage 22 (Imani, Malik 5). Total fouls-Illinois Wesleyan 17, Carthage
20. A-1075