CHICAGO - Key contributions off the bench helped power the fourth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team to an unbelievable comeback at the University of Chicago Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, at the Ratner Athletic Complex. The Titans (6-0) spotted the Maroons (3-2) the 14 points and trailed by as many as 16, but used a strong second half to come away victorious, 80-74.

Illinois Wesleyan's bench outscored Chicago, 37-14, providing a much-needed spark to the Titans come-from-behind win. Seniors Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central) and Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) led the bench effort with 12 points apiece, while freshman Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) poured in 11 points and a team-high four assists. Anderson led the team with seven rebounds, while Fridman and Bazzell knocked down two triples apiece.

Senior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) led the Titans with 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting with a 9-of-10 effort from the free throw line, while senior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Green and White held a slim lead in points in the paint, 30-28, while UC held advantages in points off turnovers (16-15) and fastbreak scoring (16-8). Each team finished with 15 turnovers in the contest, with IWU committing just four over the final 20 minutes.

Illinois Wesleyan's strong second half saw the Titans finish 26-for-51 from the floor (51 percent) and 8-of-20 from three-point range (40 percent). IWU went 20-of-27 at the free throw line. Chicago went 24-for-51 from the field, 47.1 percent, and 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Maroons converted on 19-of-26 free throw attempts.

A slow start by Illinois Wesleyan was met by a 14-point run by the Maroons over the game's first four minutes as Chicago ran out to a 14-0 lead.

IWU found a spark off the bench as Fridman fed Bazzell for a triple to give the Green and White its first points of the evening. UC answered with a bucket, but Fridman found Wilmsen for a three-ball the next time down to cut the deficit to 16-6 five minutes in.

The Maroons extended their lead to as many as 16 in the opening half, using a layup and pair of free throws to climb ahead, 33-17, with 6:57 left in the first half.

The Titans closed the half on an 18-4 run though, as Bazzell popped off five straight points to get the Green and White on track. After downing a pair of free throws, junior David Williams (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) found Bazzell for a three-pointer. On the next time down the floor David Williams kicked to senior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) for the three-ball to bring IWU back within single digits, 33-25.

A jumper by UC's Noah Pit temporarily halted the run, but free throws from Roper, a layup from Fridman, and a three-pointer on the trail from sophomore Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) made it a three-point game, 35-32, at the 1:45 mark.

A technical on Chicago head coach Mike McGrath with 21 seconds left in the period allowed Illinois Wesleyan to draw even closer. Fridman knocked down 1-of-2 freebies before Anderson finished off the half with a hook shot in the paint to trim the deficit to 37-35 at the break.

The Green and White's momentum carried over to the second half, as Roper drove baseline on the first possession of the period and threw down a one-hand reverse slam to knot the game, 37-37.

Funk picked off a pass at the top of the key and finished a tough layup on the other end to give IWU its first lead of the evening, 39-37.

A back-and-forth contest resulted in a 65-65 tie with 5:10 to go as UC converted three free throws to level the score.

Illinois Wesleyan responded with an 8-0 run, jump started by a three-ball. Getting the ball at the top of the key with a good look at the basket, Wilmsen threw up a shot fake before kicking to Fridman for a corner three-ball. Fridman's three was followed by free throws from Anderson and Hakim Williams before Anderson made a tough bucket down low to open up a 73-65 Titan advantage with 3:11 on the clock.

Chicago used three-pointers and a series of offensive rebounds to pull back within three, 74-71, with 1:27 to play, but Illinois Wesleyan halted the effort. Hakim Williams dribbled in from the wing and hit Roper on the kickback for a wing three-pointer to push the Green and White back ahead, 77-72. 

Free throws by Roper gave IWU a seven-point cushion with 31 seconds left and Wilmsen added a free throw to ice the game with 19 ticks on the clock. Chicago made a layup late, but the Titans finished off the win, 80-74.

Illinois Wesleyan enjoys a week off before opening up College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play at the Shirk Center Wednesday evening, Dec. 4. Tipoff between IWU and Carthage College is scheduled for 7 p.m.