IWU Headed to National Semis After Rolling Witt 70-49

Point guard Eliud Gonzalez cuts down the net, as Illinois Wesleyan celebrates a trip to the national semifinals.

WOOSTER, Ohio – Illinois Wesleyan University scored the last six points of the first half and the first five of the second for a 15-point cushion (35-20) and never allowed Wittenberg University any closer than 11 the rest of the way, as the Titans rolled to a 70-49 victory in an NCAA Div. III Men's Basketball Championship sectional final Saturday night at The College of Wooster's Timken Gymnasium.

Illinois Wesleyan (23-7), after barely edging Wooster 69-67 Friday night, now will head to the national semifinals in Salem, Va., next weekend.

Down 45-33 right before the midway point of the second half, Wittenberg (24-7) had three possessions with an opportunity to pull within 10 or even single digits via a 3-pointer, but came up empty each time. Just a couple minutes later, Illinois Wesleyan scored eight unanswered points to go ahead 59-38 and essentially sealed the outcome.

Jordan Zimmer made 4-of-7 3-pointers en route to a game-high 14 points, while Eliud Gonzalez produced a 10-point, five-assist, six-steal stat line in the win.

Clayton Black posted 10 points and eight boards for the Tigers.