BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Eighth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan held the lead for less than a minute in the game, but led at the end as they beat Coe 52-51 in the season opener for both teams.

The Kohawks started hot, as they raced out to a 10-3 lead in the first 3:29 against a team that advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four last season.  The Titans then scored seven-straight points over the next 2:48 to tie the game at 10 with 13:29 to play in the opening half.  Andrew Ziemnik hit a free throw with 6:48 to play in the first half to give the Titans their first lead of the game, but Coe answered with an 8-2 run to close the first half.  Coe scored with 2:30 to play in the half for the final points of the frame, as they held a 22-17 lead at the break.

Senior Seth Light (Carlisle, Iowa/Carlisle) hit a jumper with 19:04 to play to spark an 6-3 Kohawk run to open the second half, as Coe took its largest lead of the game at 28-20 with 18:10 to play.  With 15:36 to play, Ziemnik hit a pair of free throws to start a 9-2 Titan run that tied the game on a layup by Kevin Reed with 12:48 to play.

Junior Andrew Wirth (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls) hit  a jumper with 4:19 to play, as Coe went on a 6-2 run to take a 51-46 lead with 1:54 to play.  Parker Musselman hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 to play, as the Titans cut the lead to 51-49.  Both teams exchanged turnovers in the final minutes, while Coe missed a jumper with :32, but turned the ball over after getting the rebound.

With :07.3 to play, Michael Mayberger was fouled attempting a 3-pointer.  Mayberger made all three free throws, as the Titans took just their third lead of the game.  Coe's last second jumper on the baseline by Wirth missed, as the Titans escaped in the season opener.

Senior David Mataloni (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale) led the Kohawks with 13 points.  Light added 12, while Wirth had 11.  Light finished with 15 rebounds, just one shy of tying his career-high.  Senior Nathan Joens (Swisher, Iowa/Xavier) added five rebounds and two steals.  Joens, Wirth and sophomore Sean Pyritz (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) each had two assists.  Ziemnik led the Titans with a game-high 15 points.

Coe finished the game 21-of-56 (37.5%), while the Titans were 20-of-54 (37.0%).  Both teams struggled from the 3-point line, as Coe was 2-of-14 (14.3%) and the Titans were 3-of-16 (18.8%).  Both teams shot just over 50 percent from the free throw line.

The Kohawks return to action on Saturday, as they face Millikin at 2 p.m. in Bloomington, Ill. A link for live stats can be found on the front of CoeAthletics.com.