Bloomington, Ill., December 17, 2011 – Jordan Zimmer scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half to lead Illinois Wesleyan University to a 71-56 win over the Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill.

Zimmer was 7-of-15 from three-point range in the win, including five in the first half that was one-to-two feet from beyond the arc. Illinois Wesleyan outrebounded Washington U. 39-31 for the game, and had an 18-9 advantage in second-chance points.

Sophomore Alan Aboona and senior Dylan Richter were the lone offensive bright spots for the Bears in the first half, scoring 17 of the Bears' 25 points. Illinois Wesleyan held onto a 13-9 lead before Aboona scored eight-straights points to trim the lead to 20-17 with 10:27 to play.

Zimmer's three-pointer got the lead back up to eight at 25-17, but Aboona and Richter scored back-to-back lay-ups to make it 25-21. After a timeout by IWU head coach Ron Rose, the Titans ended the half on a 15-4 run to make it 40-25 at intermission. The Titans hit 7-of-16 from three-point range, and limited Washington U. to 33.3 percent shooting (10-30).

Aboona led the Bears with 10 first-half points, while Richter added seven. Despite only committing four turnovers in the first half, IWU had a 10-3 advantage in points of turnovers. Washington U.'s lone lead of the game was a three by Richter on its first possession of the game.

Richter converted a four-point play early in the second half after he banked in a three-pointer from the top of the key and was fouled. He drilled the free-throw to cut the IWU lead to 45-33 with 15:42 to play.

Illinois Wesleyan (7-2) took its largest lead of the game at 55-37 with 12:18 remaining, before Washington University mounted its comeback. Freshman Brayden Teuscher drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key for his first bucket of the game, and then a three-point play by senior Alex Toth and a back-to-back driving lay-ups by Teuscher made it 57-47 before a timeout by IWU with 7:34 to play.

Washington U. had three chances to get the lead under double figures, but Zimmer's three-pointer from 25-feet out got the IWU lead back to 60-47. The Bears trimmed the lead down to seven (61-54) with 3:23 to play after a three-pointer by Aboona, but that would be as close as Washington U. would get.

Aboona scored a career-high 15 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range, while Richter (13 points) and Teuscher (13 points) also scored in double figures for the Bears. Washington U. shot 40.0 percent (22-55) from the field in the loss and was limited to a season-low seven assists. The Bears committed 15 turnovers in the loss, including 11 in the second half.

Washington University (7-3) plays its final non-conference game of the season on Friday, Dec. 30, at Elmhurst College. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Elmhurst, Ill.

Bear Notebook: Illinois Wesleyan leads the all-time series with Washington U., 19-13 … Richter has scored in doubles figures a team-best eight times this season … The Bears were outrebounded for just the second time all season … Illinois Wesleyan had a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers … Washington U.' starting backcourt was 0-for-7 with zero points and two assists, while Illinois Wesleyan's combined for 26 points and eight assists.