BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball wraps up its season-opening three-game homestand Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16. The Titans welcome Calvin College to the Shirk Center for a 7 p.m. tip Friday night, Nov. 15, before tangling with Alma College at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.
Illinois Wesleyan came out victorious in its season opener, Nov. 12, cruising past Blackburn College 89-65. Friday night will mark the first game of the year for Calvin, while Alma will open the year at Augustana Friday night before tangling with the Titans on Saturday.
Fans can tune into the games via live stats or live stream, while Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will also have the call on 98.3 FM WEXG. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
LOPSIDED WIN: Illinois Wesleyan's 24-point win over Blackburn, Nov. 12, was IWU's largest margin of victory in a season opener since defeating Manchester 89-60 (+29) to open the 2013-14 campaign. Pat Sodemann and Alex Rossi scored 15 points each to lead IWU in that victory.
HOMECOMING OF SORTS: Keondre Schumacher and Luke Yoder looked right at home in Illinois Wesleyan's season-opener against Blackburn, Nov. 12, as the local duo combined for 26 points. Schumacher, a University High School graduate, connected on four three-pointers and scored 15 points, while Yoder, a Central Catholic product, chipped in 11 points off the bench on 5-for-5 shooting.
MUST BE THE MULLET: Junior point guard Grant Wolfe led Illinois Wesleyan and tied for the game-high with 16 points in the Titans' win over the Beavers, Nov. 12. It marked the first time in Wolfe's career that he has led IWU in scoring. Additionally, it was the ninth double-digit scoring game of his career.
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME SERIES: Illinois Wesleyan is a combined 5-0 against this weekend's competition. The Titans are 3-0 against the Knights and 2-0 versus the Scots.
IWU will take on Calvin for the third straight year Friday night. The Titans and Knights first met in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, with Illinois Wesleyan ousting Calvin, 78-64, on its way to the final four. Most recently, IWU outlasted CC 68-62 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 16, 2018.
Illinois Wesleyan will also face Alma for the third consecutive season. In last year's rendition, IWU bested the Scots 86-81, Nov. 17, 2018. Brady Rose dropped a game-high 30 points and Charlie Bair added a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double.
SHIRK'S 25TH BIRTHDAY: The 2019-20 season marks the 25th anniversary of the Shirk Center. One of the greatest athletic venues in NCAA Division III, the Shirk Center has been home to more than 600 Titan basketball games between both the men and women. The men hold a 267-52 record on their home floor, good for a .837 win percentage.
NOBODY HAS MORE: The Titans success on the court has been matched by their efforts in the classroom. IWU has seen 24 student-athletes named Academic All-Americans, the most of any school across all NCAA divisions.
YEAR 111: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 1665-909 record in its 110-year history, good for a .647 winning percentage. Additionally, the Titans 1665 wins are the fourth-most all-time in NCAA Division III. Meanwhile, IWU's 740 CCIW wins are by-far-and-above the most in the league. In fact, the Titans have 118 more conference wins than any other school in the CCIW.
BY THE NUMBERS: IWU has seen plenty of success on the hardwood in its storied history, highlighted by the Titans' NCAA National Championship in 1997. Overall, IWU has won 30 CCIW championships, made 25 tournament appearances, advanced to 17 "Sweet Sixteens", appeared in 11 "Elite Eights", and gone to six final fours.
ON THE HORIZON: IWU embarks on a three-game roadtrip following this weekend's contests. The Titans kickoff the trip at Chicago, Nov. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
