BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In search of its third straight win the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball heads to the Griswold Center for a midweek matchup with Millikin University. Tipoff from Decatur, Ill. is scheduled for 7 p.m.
IWU pushed its record to 13-6 overall and 7-3 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play with an 88-44 thumping of Carroll, Feb. 1. Meanwhile, Millikin looks to even up the season series after suffering its sixth straight loss with a 76-55 setback at Augustana, Feb. 1. The Big Blue now sit at 4-16 overall and 1-10 in the CCIW.
Fans can tune into the game via live stats or live stream. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
44 EVERYWHERE: On a night that Illinois Wesleyan honored Jack Sikma was the unveiling of a banner displaying his No. 44 jersey and noting his Naismith Hall of Fame induction, the Titans put on a show. In addition to holding Carroll to 44 points, IWU went on to win by 44, 88-44.
The Pioneers 44 points were the fewest the Titans have held an opponent to since a 76-44 win over North Central, Feb. 7, 2015, a span of 131 games.
PACKED HOUSE: More than 2000 fans packed the Shirk Center Saturday, Feb. 1, as the Titans honored one of the greatest to ever don the Green and White in . The 2,036 fans who packed the stands marked the most in any Division III game that day. Additionally, IWU's attendance was larger than 51 Division I games and was only topped by four Division II contests.
LERITZ EARNS CCIW PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOD: Sophomore Matthew Leritz became the second Titan this season to earn CCIW Player of the Week honors, Feb. 3, joining Keondre Schumacher who garnered the award Nov. 18, 2019.
Leritz was clutch off the bench for the Titans, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, leading IWU to a pair of CCIW wins. For the week, Leritz averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting 71.4 percent from the floor and 66.7 from three-point distance.
IWU BENCH > CARROLL: In its 44-point blowout of Carroll Saturday, Feb. 1, Illinois Wesleyan saw its bench outscore the Pioneers 45-44. Sophomore Matthew Leritz and junior Colin Cheaney led the way with 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Cody Mitchell (8), Cory Noe (6), Bernie Coderre (5), Lucas Heflen (2), and Samuel Painter (2) also recorded points for the Titans.
IWU's 45 bench points were its most since notching 58 in a 116-55 rout of North Park, Feb. 13, 2019. Additionally, Saturday's showing was the first time the Titan bench has outscored an opponent in a game since Dec. 29, 2014 when IWU cruised past Nazareth, 84-41. Illinois Wesleyan's bench combined for 50 points, led by 10 from Joel Pennington, to secure a 43-point win in its first game of the Cal Lutheran Holiday Classic.
A DIII RIVALRY UNLIKE MANY: The 231-game history between Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin is believed to be the second-most-played rivalry in Division III based on research done by D3Playbook. The two teams first met in 1909-10 and have played every season since with the exception of the 1943-44 and 1944-45 campaigns.
BATTLING THE BIG BLUE: Wednesday will represent the 232nd all-time meeting on the hardwood between IWU and Millikin. Illinois Wesleyan holds a comfortable 153-78 lead in the series all-time, and has won the past seven meetings, dating back to the 2015-16 season. The Titans are 23-3 against the Big Blue under Ron Rose.
Most recently, Illinois Wesleyan opened up the 2020 calendar year with an 80-71 win over Millikin inside the Shirk Center, Jan. 4. Luke Yoder led the Titans with 18 points, while Keondre Schumacher (12), Doug Wallen (11), and Cory Noe (10) also finished in double figures. IWU overcame a 13-point deficit to claim the CCIW victory.
SCOUTING REPORT - MILLIKIN: Millikin heads into its midweek matchup with Illinois Wesleyan with hopes of snapping a six-game skid that has the Big Blue sitting at 4-16 overall and 1-10 in the CCIW. Since closing out the 2019 calendar year with a shocking 63-61 win over then-No. 10 WashU, Dec. 31, Millikin has dropped seven of its last eight games.
Three players average double figures led by the Fisher brothers. Calvin Fisher leads the team with 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while Zach Fisher comes in at 13.5 points per contest. Jake Hampton rounds out the trio with 12.9 ppg.
As a team, the Big Blue are shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 35.9 from three-point range, and 64.6 percent from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Millikin's opponents are converting 48.3 percent of their shots from the floor and 42.1 percent of three-point attempts. MU is giving up 78.5 points a contest, while scoring just 65.9 a game itself.
SEE YA AT CHEEKS: Fans can catch Illinois Wesleyan Head Basketball Coaches Ron Rose and Mia Smith every Thursday night at 7 p.m. hosted by Cheeks Bar and Grill located at 1206 Towanda Ave. in Bloomington, beginning Jan. 9. Those unable to attend the weekly show can listen in on 98.3 FM WEXG.
ROAD RECORD: Illinois Wesleyan owns an 80-51 away from the Shirk Center over the past 10 seasons, good for a .612 win percentage on the road over that span. IWU is 5-3 away from home this season.
FINDING HIS GROOVE: After missing the first month of the season due to injury, sophomore Matthew Leritz has found his groove as of late. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 block per game. He has also been rather efficient, converting 20-of-30 (66.7 percent) of his shot attempts and has gone 9-for-11 at the charity stripe.
CASHING IN: Illinois Wesleyan has been one of the best when it comes to cashing in at the free throw line this season. In fact, the Titans rank second in the conference and 44th nationally with a free throw percentage of 75.1. North Central leads the conference at 77.8 percent from the line.
KEEPIN' IT CLEAN: The Titans are averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game, the third-best mark in the CCIW and the 85th-best nationally. IWU is forcing an average of 14.89 turnovers per game, the second-most in the league, and hold the league's second-best turnover margin at +2.3 (71st nationally).
BAIR'S BOARDS: Junior Charlie Bair has owned the glass this season, pulling down 9.1 rebounds per game. Bair ranks top in the conference and 70th nationally in rebounding average, while his 3.47 offensive boards per contest are 33rd-most nationally and lead the CCIW. Additionally, Bair is one of three players in the conference with six-or-more double-doubles this season and his 172 rebounds are the most in the CCIW and 69th-most in all of NCAA Division III.
YEAR 111: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 1676-915 record in its history, good for a .648 winning percentage. Additionally, the Titans 1676 wins are the fourth-most all-time in NCAA Division III. Meanwhile, IWU's 744 CCIW wins are by-far-and-above the most in the league. In fact, the Titans have more than 100 conference wins than any other school in the CCIW.
ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan returns to the Shirk Center Saturday, Feb. 8, for the final doubleheader of the season when the Titans take on Augustana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will follow the IWU women's basketball team's game against the Vikings.
