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Game story

Schedule and Results

By Bob Quillman, IWUhoops.com

CHICAGO — Behind a record setting free throw performance, No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan rallied from 20 back with 8:33 to play to defeat North Park in double overtime. The Titans maintained their slim half-game lead in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin race, improving to 9-2 (18-4 overall) in the league. IWU is two wins away from clinching the CCIW’s automatic bid to the tournament. North Park fell to 2-9, and 12-10 overall.

Illinois Wesleyan set a Division III record for free throw percentage in a game (minimum 30 made), by connecting on 35 of 36 attempts from the charity stripe, 97.2%. The previous mark was 97.1% by Rochester Tech (34 of 35), in a Feb. 16, 1980, contest versus RPI.

North Park, which started the season 9-1 before losing their first seven CCIW games, dominated the first half. The Vikings led 23-9 at the 10:17 mark in the opening stanza, and held a commanding 48-26 advantage at halftime. Seniors Sneed Deaderick and Irving Richardson paced North Park, each scoring 11 points in the half. Illinois Wesleyan was held to 25.8% from the field, as the Titans connected on just 6 of 24 attempts. North Park was 17-for-31 (54.8%) in the first half. IWU senior Chris Silagi led the Titans with eight points.

It was more of the same for the first 11 minutes of the second half. The Titans were able to cut it to 16 at the 17:15 and 16:04 marks, but two Richardson free throws pushed the Viking lead back up to 20 points, 65-45, with 8:33 to play in the game.

That’s when Illinois Wesleyan began its furious charge.

A Jim Lehan 3-pointer cut the lead to 12 with 6:49 on the clock, and Adam Dauksas pulled the Titans to within single digits, 71-62, with a long one at 4:50. Illinois Wesleyan then went on a 10-2 run -- 8 points coming from senior John Camardella -- to pull within a point, 73-72, with 2:01 to play.

After missed shots on both ends, Titan senior Luke Kasten was fouled, and made two free throws to give IWU its first lead of the game, 74-73, with 39 seconds remaining. Camardella nudged the Titan lead to two with a free throw at the 0:20 mark, but missed the second offering –- IWU’s only missed free throw of the evening. On the ensuing possession, North Park went to Deaderick, who was fouled with 16 seconds to play. He made both free throws to knot it at 75. IWU missed a shot at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

There was just as much drama in overtime, as Illinois Wesleyan erased an 86-82 North Park lead with 1:17 to play and tied it at 86 at the :54 mark. Richardson was fouled with 13 seconds to play, and calmly made both free throws to put North Park up two. Dauksas, a freshman, went coast to coast for the Titans and laid it in, however, sending the game to double overtime at 88 apiece.

North Park gained a 95-90 advantage in the second overtime, but the Titans still wouldn’t go away. Dauksas made a 3-pointer, and after a Deaderick bucket put the Vikings back up four, he scored again. IWU trailed 97-95 with 58 seconds left. Deaderick then lost the ball out of bounds near halfcourt, giving the ball to the Titans.

After a timeout, Kasten found fellow senior Eric Starkey on the right baseline, 17 feet from the basket. Starkey penetrated and scored, and was fouled. The free throw put IWU up 98-97 with just five seconds left. Deaderick missed a long 3-point shot at the buzzer.

Illinois Wesleyan shot 21-for-33 (63.6%) from the field in the second half and overtime combined, finishing at 47.4% for the game. North Park shot 13-for-32 (40.6%) after the first half to finish 47.6% from the field.

Irving Richardson scored 31 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Vikings. Sneed Deaderick tallied 26 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Javier Sanchez also had a strong game for North Park, with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Four seniors scored 15 or more points for Illinois Wesleyan -- Chris Silagi (19), John Camardella (19), Seth Hubbard (15), and Luke Kasten (15). Adam Dauksas finished with 17 points in his first game at North Park. Camardella pulled down 10 rebounds for the Titans, and Eric Starkey dished out six assists. Hubbard (9-for-9) and Kasten (7-for-7) led the way at the foul line.

IWU travels to Kenosha, Wis., on Saturday to face No. 25 Carthage (9-3, 17-6) in a pivotal CCIW contest. The Titans’ final two games are a road contest versus Millikin (2-9, 7-15) Wednesday, and a home date with Elmhurst (5-6, 10-12) on Saturday, March 1. North Park travels to North Central (2-9, 6-16) and Elmhurst before wrapping up the season by hosting Augustana (9-3, 18-5).