March 30
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Keelan Amelianovich has been named to the first team of the Division III All-American squads chosen selected by member coaches of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The 6’6” forward was earlier chosen to the D3hoops.com second team All-American squad, was the NABC’s Midwest Region “Player of the Year” and named the “Most Outstanding Player” in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Amelianovich averaged a team-high 17.9 points per game in leading IWU to a 21-7 season and a berth in the final 16 of the Division III tournament. He connected on a school record 82 3-point field goals and his 502 points this winter is 22nd most in an IWU season.
March 22
Illinois Wesleyan's Keelan Amelianovich has been selected to the second team of the All-American squads named by D3hoops.com. The sophomore, the "Most Outstanding Player" in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and a first team all-region selection in D3hoops.com, was the NABC Midwest region "Player of the Year." He averaged a team-high 17.9 points per game, connected on a school season record 82 3-point field goals and, through March 14, he was second in the nation with a .506 3-point percentage. The Titans were 21-7 and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season.
March 12
The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball season ended with a 58-53 loss at Wooster in the round of 16 in the NCAA Division III national tournament. The Titans' 12-game winning streak ended and the team's final record was 21-7. Cory Jones had 15 points to pace IWU while Keelan Amelianovich scored 12 with 10 rebounds and Adam Dauksas added 11. Zach Freeman scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for IWU, who outrebounded the Scots, 42-33, and led, 24-16, at the half.
March 6
For the second straight season, the Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team has advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA Division III national tournament. The Titans improved to 21-6 with a 77-67 win on the road against No. 2-ranked Hanover (Ind.). The Panthers' season ends at 29-2. Cory Jones had a career-high 21 points with nine rebounds and Keelan Amelianovich scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Adam Dauksas scored 16 as IWU goes to the final 16 for the 12th time in 16 tourney appearances and will play at The College of Wooster next Friday at 8 p.m. (EST)
March 4
The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team won its 11th straight game and has its 16th 20-win season in the last 39 years after an 82-73 win over Maryville (Mo.) in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament at the Shirk Center on March 4. Keelan Amelianovich led four Titans in double figure scoring with 21 while Adam Dauksas netted 14 and Jason Fisher scored 11. Jim Lehan scored 11 points and handed out seven assists while Cory Jones grabbed 11 rebounds. IWU will play at Hanover (Ind.) on Sat., March 6 in the second round of the tourney.
March 2
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Keelan Amelianovich has been selected as the “Player of the Year” in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and, for the second straight season, Scott Trost has been chosen as the league’s “Coach of the Year”. Sophomore Adam Dauksas was selected to the second team and freshman Zach Freeman earned third team all-CCIW honors. Amelianovich is the first Titan sophomore since Jack Sikma (1975) to earn the honor and the first IWU player since Korey Coon in 2000. IWU won the league title for the second straight season and for the 26th time since 1946.
March 1
A ticket plan has been formed for Illinois Wesleyan’s NCAA Division III basketball tournament game vs. Maryville (Mo.) on Thursday. The game, which will start at 7 p.m., will be handled like an IWU regular season game in that there is no reserved seating. However, everyone must pay to get in the game as no regular season passes will be accepted. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for all students, including IWU students. As a convenience to those who don’t want to stand in a line the night of the game, advance tickets will be on sale from noon-2 p.m. Wednesday at the Shirk Center.
March 1
For the second straight week, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Keelan Amelianovich has been selected as the "Player of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Amelianovich scored a career-high 26 points in a 97-71 win over North Central, then scored 17 with eight rebounds as the Titans won the CCIW title outright against Wheaton, 75-72, on Feb. 28. IWU (19-6) hosts Maryville (Mo.) [15-10] on Thurs., March 4, at 7 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
Feb. 29
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team hosts the Maryville (Mo.) Saints on Thurs., March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The winner of the IWU/Maryville game will travel to Hanover (Ind.) for a Saturday night meeting against the 26-1 Panthers, ranked No. 2 in the country. The Titans (19-6) are in the Division III tourney for the second straight season and earned an automatic bid as a result of winning the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship. Maryville (15-10) has won 13 of its last 15 games and are champions of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Making its 16th tourney appearance since joining the NCAA in 1983, IWU was national champion in 1997 and finished third in the national tournament in 1996 and 2001.
Feb. 28
The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team won its tenth straight game and captured the outright championship of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin with a 75-72 decision over Wheaton (21-4, 10-4 CCIW) at the Shirk Center on Sat., Feb. 28. The Titans (19-6, 12-2 CCIW) won their 26th CCIW title and earned the league’s automatic bid into the Division III tournament. Zach Freeman led IWU with 18 points and eight rebounds as all five starters scored in double figures. Keelan Amelianovich added 17 and senior Jim Lehan scored 15. IWU trailed by nine in the second half but took the lead for good with 2:13 to play on an Amelianovich basket.
Feb. 25
The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team clinched a share of the school’s 26th College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship with a 97-71 win at home over North Central on Wed., Feb. 25. The Titans are 18-6 overall and 11-2 in the CCIW and host Wheaton (21-3, 10-3 CCIW) on Sat., Feb. 28. Keelan Amelianovich scored 26 points to lead five Titans in double figure scoring. Chris Jones came off the bench to score 16 with five rebounds while his brother, Cory, scored 13 with six boards. Mike Wilson scored 31 for the Cardinals.
Feb. 23
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Keelan Amelianovich has been selected as the "Player of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. The Titans have a one game lead in the CCIW race with one week left and two big road wins last week helped. In an 81-62 win at Carthage (Feb. 18) Amelianovich scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He followed that with a 20 point, eight rebound effort in an 84-73 win at Augustana (Feb. 21). For the week he shot .704 (19-27) from the field and made seven of nine 3-point tries (.778).
Feb. 21
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team exploded to a 28-3 lead at the start of the game and won its eighth straight game by an 84-73 margin over Augustana in Rock Island on Sat., Feb. 21. The Titans shot 57 per cent in the game and connected on nine-of-12 3-pointers as they improved to 17-6 overall and 10-2 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Keelan Amelianovich had 20 points and eight rebounds while Adam Dauksas scored 18 and Cory Jones added 11.
Feb. 18
After a sluggish start, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team cruised to its seventh straght win, an 81-62 decision over Carthage in Kenosha, Wis., on Wed., Feb. 18. Keelan Amelianovich matched his career high with 25 points and Zach Freeman scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Cory Jones added 16 points and six rebounds as the Titans improved to 16-6 overall and remain in first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 9-2 record. IWU led, 35-24, at halftime and outrebounded Carthage (13-9, 5-6 CCIW) by a 42-26 margin in the win.
Feb. 14
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team stayed atop the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin standings with a 62-55 win at Elmhurst on Sat., Feb. 14. The Titans improved to 15-6 overall and 8-2 in the league with their sixth straight win and provided coach Scott Trost with his 100th career win as a college head coach (51 at Elmhurst and 49 at IWU). Keelan Amelianovish scored 19 in the win, Zach Freeman added 14 and Cory Jones scored 12, all in the second half.
Feb. 11
Despite 20 turnovers, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team staved off Millikin, 65-51, at the Shirk Center on Wed., Feb. 11. Keelan Amelianovich and Cory Jones each had 13 points and seven rebounds while Steve Schweer came off the bench to score 10. The Titans improved to 14-6 overall and remain in first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 7-2 record. Millikin, also guilty of 20 turnovers with 34 per cent field goal shooting, fell to 13-8, 5-5 CCIW.
Feb. 7
All five starters scored in double figures as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team staved off Carthage, 80-68, on Sat., Feb. 7 at the Shirk Center. Senior Jim Lehan scored 17 points to lead the Titans to their fourth straight win, while Cory Jones and Adam Dauksas each scored 16. Zach Freeman scored 12 and Keelan Amelianovich added 10 as IWU improved to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Theo Powell scored 31 with six rebounds for Carthage (13-7 overall, 5-4 CCIW).
Jan. 31
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team avenged an earlier season loss by topping North Park, 82-51, on Sat., Jan. 31, at the Shirk Center. Keelan Amelianovich scored 23 points and hit five 3-pointers, while Zach Freeman (13), Cory Jones (11) and Jim Lehan (10) also scored in double figures. The Titans improved to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin while North Park fell to 6-12, 1-6 CCIW. Amelianovich also led IWU with seven rebounds.
Jan.28
With the game tied, 41-41, early in the second half, Illinois Wesleyan went on an 18-2 run to gain a 59-43 advantage over Millikin and finished with a win over the Big Blue in Decatur on Wed., Jan. 28. Snapping a two-game road losing streak, the Titans improved to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Adam Dauksas had 15 of his 18 points in the second half, while Keelan Amelianovich scored 19 and Zach Freeman had 11 points and seven rebounds. Cory Jones added 10 in the win. Millikin fell to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in the CCIW.
Jan. 22
A North Park basket and free throw with 1.4 seconds to play was the difference as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team dropped a 77-74 decision to the Vikings on Wed., Jan. 21, in Chicago. The Titans (9-6 overall, 2-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) were led by the 22 points of Keelan Amelianovich, while Adam Dauksas scored 17 and Jim Lehan and Cory Jones each added 10. Amelianovich also had a game-high eight rebounds.
Jan. 12
For the second straight game, Illinois Wesleyan placed all five starters in double figure scoring as the Titans defeated Augustana, 78-77, in overtime on Mon., Jan. 12 at the Shirk Center. A basket with 2.1 seconds left by freshman Zach Freeman gave the Titans the win and improved their record to 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Keelan Amelianovich scored 17, Jim Lehan had 16, while Freeman, Adam Dauksas and Cory Jones each scored 13. Drew Carstens had 29 to lead Augustana (7-7, 1-2 CCIW).
Jan. 10
The Illinois Wesleyan Titans opened defense of their College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin title with an 84-74 win over Elmhurst on Sat., Jan. 10 at the Shirk Center. Keelan Amelianovich and Jim Lehan each scored 16 while Cory Jones and Zach Freeman each added 15 and Adam Dauksas hit for 12. Jones and Dauksas each grabbed eight rebounds for IWU, who improved to 8-4 overall, as the Titans held a 40-29 rebounding edge and shot 53 per cent from the field in the game.
Jan. 7
Sophomore Adam Dauksas netted a career-high 29 points and Jim Lehan also hit for his career best (with 13) as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team breezed to a 94-67 win over Wabash on Wed., Jan. 7, at the Shirk Center. The Titans (7-4) jumped out to a 56-26 halftime edge over the Little Giants (5-7), who were guilty of 23 turnovers. Dauksas was 10-of-14 from the field and Lehan was 5-of-6 as IWU shot 53 per cent for the game.
Jan. 5
Freshman Zach Freeman has been selected co-winner of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin "Player of the Week" honor for games ending Jan. 3. Freeman, who shares the honor with Wheaton’s Joel Kolmodin, scored nine points and snared seven rebounds as IWU beat Johnson & Wales 73-54 on Dec. 28. He followed that with a 24-point, 11-rebound performance as the Titans fell to Florida Gulf Coast, the No. 8-ranked NCAA Division II team, by a 109-97 count on Dec. 30. In that game he was seven-of-17 from the floor and made 10-of-12 free throws.
Dec. 30
Freshman Zach Freeman scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds but Illinois Wesleyan lost to Florida Gulf Coast University, 109-97, in Ft. Myers, Fla., on Tues., Dec. 30. Adam Dauksas added 20 while Keelan Amelianovich scored 18 and Jim Lehan contributed 10 for the Titans (6-4), who trailed by a 57-39 margin at halftime. FGCU, the No. 8-ranked NCAA Division II team, got 37 points from Leighton Bowie in a game that saw IWU coach Scott Trost ejected with 17:40 to play.
Dec. 28
In game one of their Florida trip, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team handily defeated Johnson & Wales (Fla.), 73-54, in Miami Shores on Sun., Dec. 28. Keelan Amelianovich scored 23 points and Cory Jones added 14 as the Titans improved to 6-3 this season. Zach Freeman scored nine and Jason Fisher came off the bench to add eight points for IWU, who led by as many as 23 in the first half and held a 43-23 intermission advantage.
Dec. 22
Adam Dauksas handed out 14 assists, tying the school single-game record, as the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team breezed past Benedictine, 89-56, on Mon., Dec. 22, at the Shirk Center. Dauksas tied the record set in 1991 by Brian Martin against Carthage. Keelan Amelianovich led the Titans with 20 points while Jason Fisher came off the bench with 14 and Zach Freeman and Chris Jones each netted 13. Freeman also snared a team-high nine rebounds as the Titans improved to 5-3. Benedictine fell to 6-2.
Dec. 18
Hanover extended its regular-season winning streak to 23 games as the Panthers downed Illinois Wesleyan, 63-54, on Thurs., Dec. 18, at the Shirk Center. Hanover improved to 8-0 this year as IWU fell to 4-3. The Titans were led by sophomore Keelan Amelianovich with 18 points while freshman Zach Freeman scored 11 points and snared 12 rebounds. The Titans are at home Mon., Dec. 22, to face Benedictine at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13
Sophomore Cory Jones had 19 points and nine rebounds and sophomore Keelan Amelianovich scored 19 as Illinois Wesleyan recorded an 85-66 nonconference win over Olivet Nazarene on Sat., Dec. 13, at the Shirk Center. Adam Dauksas scored 13 points and Zach Freeman added 12 as the Titans improved to 4-2 overall. The Titans shot 57 per cent from the field (31 of 54) and connected on 10 of 16 3-pointers (62 per cent). Olivet Nazarene fell to 5-7.
Dec. 6
Freshman Zach Freeman had 17 points and 15 rebounds and was chosen to the all- tournament team, but the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team lost in the championship game of the 20th Lopata Classic to host Washington U., 65-61, on Sat., Dec. 6, in St. Louis. Keelan Amelianovich, also an all-tournament selection, added 16 points and five rebounds and Adam Dauksas scored 12 for the Titans, who fell to 3-2. IWU and Washington U. (4-3) were tied 30-30 at halftime.
Dec. 5
Illinois Wesleyan advanced to the championship of the Lopata Classic after defeating Johns Hopkins, 77-64, in the first round on Fri., Dec. 5, in St. Louis. Adam Dauksas and Keelan Amelianovich each scored 21 to pace IWU (3-1) while Cory Jones grabbed nine rebounds as the Titans held a 44-37 edge on the boards. IWU, winners of the Lopata Classic in 1998, will play at 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6 against the host school, Washington U., which downed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 76-59, in the other Friday semifinal.
Dec. 2
Four starters scored in double digits as Illinois Wesleyan handily defeated Beloit, 104-84, in a nonconference game at the Shirk Center on Tues., Dec. 2. Steve Schweer led the offensive barrage with 22, while Adam Dauksas scored 19, Keelan Amelianovich had 17, and Zach Freeman scored 12 with seven rebounds. Chris Jones came off the bench to snare seven boards as the Titans improved to 2-1. Beloit (1-3) was led by Josh Hinz, whose 37 points is a Shirk Center record for an opponent.
Nov. 23
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team lost in the championship game of the Chicago Midway Classic, falling 67-65 to No. 13-ranked Trinity (Texas) on Sun., Nov. 23. The Titans (1-1) were paced by the 22 points of sophomore Adam Dauksas, while Keelan Amelianovich added 13 and Jason Fisher came off the bench to score 10. Cory Jones grabbed eight rebounds in the game, which the Titans led 38-30 at halftime. Dauksas and Amelianovich were selected to the all-tournament team.
Nov. 22
Led by 25 points from sophomore Keelan Amelianovich, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team posted a 73-48 win over the U. of Chicago in the first round of the Midway Classic on Sat., Nov. 22 in Chicago. Sophomores Adam Dauksas and Jason Fisher added 16 and 10 points, respectively, and Dauksas corralled a team-high seven rebounds. The loss spoiled the home opener at Chicago’s new Ratner Athletics Center. IWU will play for the tourney title on Sunday at 5 p.m. against either Trinity (Texas) or Springfield (Mass.).
Nov. 20
The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team, coached by Scott Trost, opens its 2003-04 season against the University of Chicago at 6 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 22, in the first round of the seventh annual Midway Classic. Trinity (Texas) and Springfield (Mass.) are the other two teams in the event, scheduled to be held at the U. of Chicago’s new Gerald Ratner Athletics Center. The consolation and championship games will be Sunday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
