BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The 11th-ranked University of Chicago men's basketball team came up just short in a thrilling top-20 showdown at #16 Illinois Wesleyan.

From the opening tip, physicality was going to be a factor with the first foul not being called until 12 minutes into the game. Shane Regan hit a three from Nick Roper on the second possession to give the Maroons a 3-2 lead, but it would be the only lead of the game for UChicago.

The Titans would use an 8-0 run to propel the team to a 14-6 lead, and they would continue to grow the lead in the rest of the half. The Maroons would cut the lead to seven at 30-23 on a layup by Eamonn Kenah, but three triples on three straight possessions helped the Titans grow their lead to 14, the biggest of the half. A late three at the buzzer then sent the teams into the locker room with a 42-30 lead.

The Maroons opened the second half with a 9-2 run with five points by Regan and four points by Roper to cut the Titans' lead to six just three minutes in, but Illinois Wesleyan would respond with a 7-0 run of their own to extend the lead back to 13.

The Titans would continue to fight off the UChicago run to maintain a double-digit advantage until a Daniel Cochran triple cut the lead to nine with under nine minutes to play. The 10-2 run continued with six points for Cochran and four points to Roper to cut the lead to four with five minutes to play. However, Illinois Wesleyan would not go away as Josh Fridman hit a big three plus the foul to push the lead to nine with three minutes to go.

UChicago continued to fight and would not go away with a jumper in the lane by Roper and a pair of layups inside by Regan to cut the lead to one possession for the first time since 16:10 to go in the first half. The Maroons would get a stop on the defensive end, and Cochran went to the line to cut the lead to one. After one make, the second free throw went long and the Titans came up with a scramble for the loose ball. After the Titans made one of two free throws on the other end, the Maroons had a great look at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, but it narrowly missed to cap off the 72-69 defeat.

Shane Regan led the Maroons with 17 points and four assists, and Nick Roper added 14 points and eight boards. Daniel Cochran also added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

With the loss, the Maroons fall to 2-1 on the season. UChicago returns to the road on Saturday, November 22, as the team travels to Edgewood for their second of four straight games away from home.