BLOOMINGTON — The first seven minutes were the feel-good story Illinois Wesleyan sought. Three-point shots were piercing the net instead of clanging off the rim and a 13-point lead over a nationally ranked opponent was the reward.
Yet when Elmhurst clawed back first within five entering halftime and then forged a second-half tie, the Titans had to write another chapter if a happy ending was in their future.
IWU finished with a flourish as Doug Wallen and Matt Leritz posted career-high point totals and the Titans turned in key defensive plays late to topple 17th-ranked Elmhurst, 85-73, in a key College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin contest Wednesday at Shirk Center.