March 10, 2001 - Illinois Wesleyan 77, Chicago 68 CHICAGO -- Laban Cross scored a game-high 22 points as Illinois Wesleyan University rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat the University of Chicago 77-68 in the championship game of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Midwest Sectional Saturday night at the University of Chicago's Henry Crown Field House.
With the victory, Illinois Wesleyan advances to the national semifinals to be held next weekend in Salem, Virginia. The Titans will face William Paterson (N.J.) [24-4] at 7 p.m. Central time in the second semifinal game of the night at Salem Civic Center. The opening semifinal will pit Catholic University (Washington, D.C.) [26-5] against Ohio Northern [26-2] at 5 p.m. Central time.
Illinois Wesleyan (23-6) will be making its third trip to the Division III final four. The Titans captured the 1997 national championship and finished third in 1996.
Chicago (24-4) led 37-28 at halftime and was up by as many as 11 at 39-28 with 19:18 left. Illinois Wesleyan then went on a 15-3 run during the next 3:08 to take a 43-42 lead. Cross and Adam Osborn each scored five points during that stretch. Osborn finished the night with 10 points and eight assists.
Chicago's took its last lead of the night at the 14:45 mark on a basket by Jon Poyer. IWU went ahead to stay when Todd Wente scored to give the Titans a 45-44 lead just seven seconds later. Illinois Wesleyan then outscored the Maroons 16-4 to build a 61-48 lead with 8:44 to go.
Chicago could get no closer than five the rest of the way. Poyer and Jim Waichulis led Chicago with 13 points each.
March 9, 2001 - Illinois Wesleyan 63, Elmhurst 60
CHICAGO -- Laban Cross scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half as 17th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University defeated ninth-ranked Elmhurst College 63-60 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Midwest Sectional Friday night at the University of Chicago's Henry Crown Field House.
Elmhurst (22-5) led 35-30 at halftime. The Bluejays went ahead 37-30 early in the second half, but the Illinois Wesleyan (22-6) went on an 8-0 run to take a 38-37 lead with 16:43 left in the contest.
The lead changed hands six times until Illinois Wesleyan took a 55-54 edge with 4:25 left on a basket by Luke Kasten. A pair of free throws by Ryan Knuppel put Elmhurst up 56-55 with 3:14 to play, but a three-pointer by Cross gave the Titans the lead for good 58-56 at the 2:34 mark.
Kasten finished with 12 points for Illinois Wesleyan, while Adam Osborn and Seth Hubbard each added 11.
Knuppel led all scorers with 19 points, while teammates Justin Carley and Nelson Grant each chipped in 10.