BLOOMINGTON — When Illinois Wesleyan starter John Koschnitzky departed with a foot injury just 2:39 after tip-off, it was obvious the Titans’ bench would play a key role in Wednesday’s nonconference basketball game.

It turned out the IWU reserves held the key to victory in a 78-49 defeat of Webster on Wednesday before a Shirk Center crowd of 675.

The Wesleyan bench outscored the starters, 49-29, as the Titans moved to 2-0.

“It really does show our depth,” said sophomore Jordan Zimmer, who scored a team-high 16 points in a reserve role. “When you can run guys in and out and keep fresh legs in there, it really does help having a deep bench.”

All five IWU starters were out when Zimmer, Matt Schick, Sean Dwyer, Duncan Lawson and Ryan Connolly ignited the decisive run.

Lawson hit two baskets, Connolly connected on two free throws and Schick converted a driving shot to extend the Titans’ lead from 43-35 to 51-35.

“Sean gave us a real spark when he came in with a real toughness,” Wesleyan coach Ron Rose said. “Matt made some plays and Duncan was really active and got on the boards.”

Connolly reached double figures for the second straight game off the bench with 13 points. Sean Johnson and Doug Sexauer added 12 each.

“The second group gave us a huge run the second half,” said Johnson.

A disjointed first half saw the Titans hit just 8 of their first 24 shots. But an 11-4 spurt to close the half gave IWU a 34-28 edge entering the break.

“It was really a frustrating half in the sense there was a lot of wasted effort and lack of execution,” Rose said. “There were times on the offensive end you couldn’t really tell what we were trying to accomplish. On the defensive end, the same thing. It was really a lack of understanding the team concept.”

Johnson said the Titans discussed at halftime making a needed adjustment.

“Shots weren’t falling, there was limited communication and we didn’t have much energy,” Johnson said. “It was a frustrating first half to watch when you were out and to be a part of. We knew it had to be a totally different second half.”

Jerry Strickland topped Webster with 12 points. Drew Moore added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Gorloks shot just 24 percent in the second half of their season opener.

Sexauer grabbed 11 rebounds as the Titans held a 39-38 edge on the boards.

Koschnitzky will have an X-ray today to determine the extent of his injury.

“He planted and had some pain in his foot,” Rose said. “It’s certainly something we’re concerned about.”

 

IWU 78, Webster 49

AT SHIRK CENTER

WEBSTER

    Min    FG    FT    Reb    A    PF    Pt

Restoff    30    2-8    1-3    1    0    0    7

Trippett    29    1-2    0-0    3    1    0    2

Whitcomb    21    0-1    1-2    4    1    4    1

Ortwerth    20    4-7    0-0    2    1    3    8

Moore    27    3-13    3-4    7    0    4    10

Strickland    23    5-12    2-2    2    1    2    12

Miller    18    3-5    1-3    5    0    3    7

Endo    1    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0

Garrett    15    1-1    0-0    3    4    1    2

Cookson    4    0-1    0-0    1    0    0    0

Ogunsalu    4    0-1    0-0    2    0    1    0

Meeh    8    0-2    0-2    3    2    1    0

Team                5

Totals    200    19-53    8-16    38    10    19    49

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN

    Min    FG    FT    Reb    A    PF    Pt

Johnson    25    3-7    5-6    1    3    3    12

Rosenkranz    22    2-6    1-1    1    1    2    5

Sexauer    28    5-14    2-2    11    3    2    12

O’Callaghan    14    0-2    0-0    3    0    4    0

Koschnitzky    4    0-0    0-0    0    0    0    0

Schick    12    1-1    2-2    1    3    1    4

Gonzalez    3    0-0    0-0    1    2    0    0

Dwyer    23    2-3    0-0    5    3    0    4

Rudnicki    3    0-0    0-0    2    0    0    0

Oswald    3    0-1    0-0    1    0    0    0

Zimmer    25    5-11    3-3    5    1    0    16

Schouten    3    0-0    2-2    0    0    0    2

Lawson    20    3-6    0-0    3    2    1    6

Reed    3    2-3    0-0    0    0    1    4

Connolly    12    5-10    3-3    1    2    4    13

Team                4

Totals    200    28-64    18-19    39    20    18     78

Webster     28    21    —   49

Illinois Wesleyan    34    44    —   78

Three-point field goals: Webster 3-14 (Restoff 2-5, Moore 1-4, Miller 0-1, Cookson 0-1, Strickland 0-3); IWU 4-16 (Zimmer 3-7, Johnson 1-4, Rosenkranz 0-1, Dwyer 0-1, Oswald 0-1, Lawson 0-2).

Turnovers: Webster 22. IWU 11; Blocked shots: Webster 3 (Moore, Miller, Ogunsalu); IWU 2 (O’Callaghan, Reed);  Steals: Webster 3 (Moore 2, Restoff); IWU 7 (O’Callaghan 2, Dwyer 2, Sexauer, Zimmer, Lawson).

Officials: Rayford, Deguzman, Burch.

Attendance: 675.