Millikin used a tight defense to keep the Titans in check for much of the game.
Millikin was up 25-20 at the half holding the Titans to 36 percent shooting from the field.
In the second half, Illinois Wesleyan got their fast break offense in gear thanks in part to 16 second half points from Keelan Amelianovich. At about the 10 minute mark left in the game the Titans had built a 10 point lead. Millikin kept chipping away and pulled ahead 48-47 with 3:24 left to play. Millikin got six straight points from Lance Brooks to put them ahead. The game went back and forth the rest of the way. Millikin’s Drew Gensler hit one of two free throws with 31 seconds remaining to tie the game at 54 all. The game went to overtime when Wesleyan’s Amelianovich missed a three pointer at the buzzer.
The turning point of the overtime came with 2:39 left in the game. Zach Freeman hit his first free throw to make it 59-58 Titans. Freeman missed his second shot, but the Titans got the rebound and Adam Dauksas hit a three pointer to give them the four point cushion.
Millikin’s top scorer on the night was Reid Jones with 18 points. Gensler had 14, Brooks had 12 and Mike Gavic had 11.
Illinois Wesleyan got 22 points from Zach Freeman, 21 from Amelianovich an 11 from Dauksas. Ten of Dauksas points came in the overtime period.
Millikin is now 8-6 and 1-2 in the CCIW. Illinois Wesleyan improves to 12-1 and 2-1 in the CCIW.
Millikin hosts #12 North Central on Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m.