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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Playing for the first time in 23 days, the Nazareth men's basketball team returned to the hardwood against a formidable foe Monday as the Golden Flyers dropped a tough non-conference game to ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan, 84-41. The game was played as part of the Thrivent Financial Tournament hosted by Cal Lutheran at the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.

Nazareth, playing its first game since Dec. 6, is 2-4 overall after falling to the Titans, ranked ninth nationally in the most recent top 25 poll from d3hoops.com. Illinois Wesleyan, a perennial Division III power from Bloomington, Ill., improved to 8-2 overall. Nazareth plays again Tuesday at 9 p.m. eastern time in the tournament consolation game against Fontbonne of St. Louis, Mo. Fontbonne is 2-7 overall after losing to host Cal Lutheran, 82-60, in Monday's opening game.

Nazareth played without junior captain Mitch Ford, who ranks second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg.) and rebounding (5.0 rpg.). He underwent knee surgery last week and will be out until at least mid-January.
The Golden Flyers had a difficult time from the outset against the Titans, who were equally efficient offensively and defensively. Utilizing supreme offensive balance, 12 different players scored baskets for the Titans with nine different players accounting for the team's 14 three-point baskets. The Titans made 34 of 66 shots (51.5 percent) from the field overall, including 14 of 26 three-pointers (53.8 percent).

lllinois Wesleyan's Pat Sodemann hit a three-pointer on the Titans' first possession and Bryce Dolan made a long-distance shot about two minutes later to give the Titans an early advantage before Nazareth scored. The lead swelled to 43-15 by halftime and continued to grow in the second half. Dolan and Joel Pennington each finished with 10 points for the Titans, while Jordan Nelson added nine. Nazareth junior Nick Nadeau led the Golden Flyers with 13 points. Junior Maurice Mills had seven points, six rebounds and four blocks. Sophomores Dan Morse and Denzell Jackson each scored seven points.