(Logo created by Bob Freeman)

Results

Game 1 (8/20 in San Carlos): IWU 93 San Carlos 45 (Amelianovich 18, Dauksas 13, Cory Jones 12)

Game 2 (8/21 in San Carlos): IWU 89 Costa Rica National Team 69 (Amelianovich 26*, Dauksas 18, Z. Freeman 13)

Game 3 (8/23 in San  Jose): Barbados National 91 IWU 90 (OT) (Dauksas 22, Amelianovich 18, Z, Freeman 18)

Game 4 (8/25 in San Jose): IWU 87 Brujas 34 (Chris Jones 14, Amelianovich 13, Cory Jones 11)

Game 5 (8/26 in San Jose): IWU 80 Escaza 73 (Z. Freeman 29, Amelianovich 20, Dauksas 18)

Photos (courtesy of Jay Dauksas)

The Titans visit an orphanage in San Carlos

The Titans pose for a picture with their new friends after a big win at San Carlos Arena

Barbados National Game pics: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9

Pantagraph Stories

8/27/05 -- Titans go 4-1 on Costa Rican trip

Pantagraph staff

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- The Illinois Wesleyan basketball team wrapped up its exhibition tour of this Central American country Friday with an 80-73 victory over Escazu.

The Titans, who also defeated Brujas 87-34 on Thursday, finished with a 4-1 tour record.

"We had a wonderful experience," IWU coach Scott Trost said. "The people treated us great."

Zach Freeman scored 29 points in the win over Escazu. Keelan Amelianovich added 20 points and Adam Dauksas 18.

"It was a good game. They had some Americans on their team," said Trost. "It's been a great experience for these kids. International competition is a lot more physical than in America."

The Titans had no trouble disposing of Brujas.

"There's not much to be said," Trost said. "They were outmatched at every position."

Chris Jones led Wesleyan with 14 points, Amelianovich chipped in 13 and Cory Jones 11.

The Titans return to Bloomington late this evening.

8/24/05 - Barbados Nationals edge IWU

Pantagraph staff

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- The Illinois Wesleyan basketball team dropped a 91-90 decision in overtime to the Barbados National Team on Tuesday in the third game of its exhibition tour.

"It was a great game. They're good," said IWU coach Scott Trost, whose team is 2-1 in its visit to the Central American country. "They were big and physical. They went 6-10, 6-9, 6-9. We played pretty well."

Adam Dauksas paced the Titans with 22 points. Keelan Amelianovich and Zach Freeman added 18 each, Chris Jones had 17 and Matt Arnold 10.

"They had a kid who started at Iowa State, a guy who played at Nevada-Reno and a guy who played at Central Connecticut," Trost said. "It was a good experience for our kids to play against older people."

The IWU contingent will take a day off from basketball today to go whitewater rafting.

The Titans play Brujas Thursday and the Costa Rica National Team Friday before returning home.

8/23/05 -- IWU wins two in Costa Rica

SAN CARLOS, Costa Rica -- Senior Keelan Amelianovich scored 44 points as the Illinois Wesleyan basketball team won the first two games of its exhibition tour of Costa Rica.

Amelianovich scored 18 points in a 92-43 victory over San Carlos Saturday and added 26 in an 89-69 triumph over the Costa Rica National Team on Sunday.

Cory Jones had 12 points in the win over San Carlos, while Adam Dauksas, Andrew Freeman and Jason Fisher chipped in 10 each. Steve Schweer and Mike McGraw had seven points apiece and Zach Freeman six.

"To be honest, they weren't very good," IWU coach Scott Trost said.

The Titans then handled a Costa Rica National Team that had lost by only eight points to Division I Seton Hall last October.

"We played very well," said Trost. "We're having a great trip. The people are very friendly. Things are going well."

Amelianovich scored 24 of his 26 points on 8 3-pointers. Dauksas followed with 18 points, Zach Freeman 13, Cory Jones nine, Chris Jones eight and Andrew Freeman eight.

The Titans also have visited an orphanage and children's hospital.

"I think that was a very moving experience for both parties involved," said Trost.

IWU travels back to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, to meet the Barbados National Team today. The Titans then meet Brujas Thursday and the Costa Rica National Team again on Friday.

8/18/05 - 'Chance of a lifetime'

IWU looks to Costa Rica trip for comaraderie, experience

By Randy Reinhardt

rreinhardt@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON -- Purely from a coaching standpoint, Scott Trost loves getting 10 extra practices with his Illinois Wesleyan basketball team.

"He's soaking it up," said senior Cory Jones.

Yet Trost sees a myriad of benefits for his team as the Titans leave for a five-game exhibition tour of Costa Rica on Friday.

"I think it's great for us. It gives us the opportunity to experiment a little bit and look at some things," Trost said. "This team bonds well and has no egos. The focus of the team is solely to win. A trip like this helps them in doing that."

The Titans will fly from St. Louis to Miami to San Jose, Costa Rica, Friday. IWU will then drive to San Carlos and play a San Carlos team Saturday and the Costa Rica National Team Sunday at the San Carlos Arena.

After traveling back to San Jose, the Central American country's capital, the Titans meet the Barbados National Team Tuesday, Brujas Aug. 25 and the Costa Rica National Team Aug. 26.

The Aug. 26 game will be part of a celebration of 100 years of basketball in Costa Rica.

"Going to Costa Rica is the chance of a lifetime. We get to see a beautiful country," Jones said. "A trip like this brings about camaraderie. We get to spend more time together and experience a new experience. Most of us have never been out of the country before."

The Titans also have a busy social calendar. They will visit a children's hospital, a rain forest, the Arenal Volcano, go whitewater rafting and put on a basketball clinic.

"I think everyone is excited," senior Matt Arnold said. "It's going to be a fun trip."

Eight seniors will be part of Wesleyan's 14-player travel party. Making the trip are seniors Arnold, Cory Jones, Chris Jones, Keelan Amelianovich, Jason Fisher, Mike McGraw, Steve Schweer and Adam Dauksas.

The juniors are Andrew Freeman, Zach Freeman, Tyler Smith and Mike Harrigan, and the sophomores are Darius Gant and John Caywood.

The Titans hope to use the trip as momentum for the coming season and the official beginning of practice in October. IWU returns all of its key players from a 21-5 team a year ago.

"I told the team how we practice and what we do from here on out sets the tone for the year," Trost said. "We are full of anticipation for what this year has a chance to bring. There are going to be high expectations. This year's team has got to go further, but that's tough when everybody is shooting for you."

The Titans dropped their first NCAA Division III Tournament game to Hanover last season.

"Last year ended on such a down note," said Trost. "This trip can kind of erase that memory and help us look forward to the start of a new season."

The extra practices and games will give the Titans a chance to fine-tune an already cohesive unit.

"I think everyone has something to prove after last season," Arnold said. "We had a good year. It just ended poorly. It's a senior-dominated team so this is our last chance."

Hutson joins staff

Former IWU and Normal Community High School standout Chad Hutson has joined Trost's coaching staff as a volunteer assistant for the coming season.

"Chad is a welcome addition to the staff," said Trost. "He has a good basketball mind and a great rapport with our student-athletes. He brings a real positive energy to our team and our staff. It doesn't hurt to have another set of eyes and a difference perspective."

Hutson played for the Titans from 1991 to '95. He ranks second on the school's career assist list with 449 and is second in free throw percentage at 83.5.