Illinois Wesleyan players celebrate their third consecutive CCIW title following the season-ending victory over Millikin at the Shirk Center.

Illinois Wesleyan Loses to Hanover, 81-76, in NCAA Division III Tournament

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (March 5, 2004) – Illinois Wesleyan's Titan were ousted from the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament by visiting Hanover College, 81-76, Saturday night at the Shirk Center.

The Titans, representing the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as conference champion, saw the season come to an end with a 21-5 record. Two of the Titans' five losses came to Hanover.

Hanover's Pirates out of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference advanced to the sectional tournament where they play Trinity University of Texas, a winner over Pomona Pitzer.

Hanover built a 33-29 halftime lead and moved out to a 10-point lead early in the second half. The Titans battled back to tie the game, 47-47, with 12:45 left on a layup by junior Adam Dauksas, the CCIW Player of the Year who led all scorers with 27 points on the night.

Illinois Wesleyan grabbed its largest lead of the second half, 53-49, on a Dauksas three-pointer at the 11:18 mark.

But Hanover proceeded to connect on four consecutive three-pointers, all by different players, on its next four possessions. The Pirates, who put on a shooting clinic in the second half, hit 17 of 23 shots from the field, including six of eight from three-point range.

Hanover led 61-55 with 8:58 left when the Titans made a final charge. Junior Keelan Amelianovich, scored six of his 23 points and junior Cory Jones added a free throw to give Illinois Wesleyan its last lead, 62-61, with 6:20 left.

But the Pirates quickly responded with Tommy Dennis and Brian Chrin combining for an 11-0 run over the next three decisive minutes.

Hanover put four players in double figures with Dennis and Chrin getting 18 apiece. Dennis was eight of nine from the field while Chrine was eight of 10. Ben Lye added 16 and Matt Moore had 11 for the Pirates whose record moved to 25-5.

A Shirk Center crowd of 2,850 was in attendance to watch the Titans lose for only the 12th time at home since the 1994-95 season.

Box Score

The Road to Salem

IWU in the NCAAs
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