JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Nebraska Wesleyan men's basketball fought hard in the championship game of the Bill Merris Tournament but came up short, falling 66-57 to RV Illinois College on Saturday afternoon at Sherman Gymnasium.
How It Happened
The Prairie Wolves got off to a slow start, but Carter Glenn scored ten quick points to help NWU take their first lead of the contest, 26-24. Illinois College responded with a 7-4 run, fueled by a three-pointer and driving layup from Buzz Ritzel. On the last possession of the game, Glenn drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to give the Prairie Wolves a one-point, 32-31 lead going into the locker room.
The second half opened with Nebraska Wesleyan making a statement, as Conner Brown scored six points to spark an 11-4 run. Illinois College was able to counter and pull the game back into single digits with just under 10 minutes remaining. However, cold shooting plagued the Prairie Wolves in the final 10 minutes, as they hit just 2-of-10 field goals in the final ten, including 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Illinois College capitalized on their opportunities at the free-throw line, converting 19-of-26 attempts in the second half. Despite a late push led by Glenn's aggressive drives and Brown's energy, the Prairie Wolves couldn't close the gap. Illinois College finished the game on a 25-6 run in the final eight minutes of the game.
Inside the Numbers
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Nebraska Wesleyan: Shot 34.5% from the field (19-for-55), 22.2% from three-point range (6-for-27), and 65.0% from the free-throw line (13-for-20). The Prairie Wolves forced 18 turnovers and recorded nine steals.
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Illinois College: Shot 41.7% from the field (20-for-48), including 30.4% from three-point range (7-for-23). The Blueboys scored 20 points off turnovers.
Key Performers
Up Next
Nebraska Wesleyan (2-2) will return to Snyder Arena on Sunday, November 24, for their home opener against Colorado College. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM as the Prairie Wolves look to bounce back and build momentum.
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