BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the second time in three days, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team will make the trek to Wisconsin, this time for a Monday night game at Carthage College, Jan. 24. Tipoff between the third-ranked Titans and Firebirds is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Tarble Arena.
Illinois Wesleyan is 14-2 overall and 7-1 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games this season. The Titans most recently rolled past Carroll University, 72-54, in Waueksha, Wis. Saturday, Jan. 22. Meanwhile, Carthage sits even at 8-8 overall but holds a 1-6 CCIW mark. The Firebirds have lost back-to-back games, including a 90-79 setback at the hands of North Central College, Jan. 22.
A live stream of the game will be available, along with live stats, while Eric Stock will also provide an IWU audio only broadcast. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
NO TROUBLE IN TARBLE: Tarble Arena, the home of the Firebirds, has been one of the road arenas the Titans have fared well in historically. In fact, IWU is 20-5 in Kenosha, Wis. since 1989, and is currently riding a six-game win streak at Tarble Arena.
IWU's last loss at Carthage came Jan. 25, 2014, where CC defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 80-73. Four players scored in double figures in that game, led by Andrew Ziemnik's 15, but IWU could not overcome a seven-point halftime deficit and Carthage's hot three-point shooting (11-for-21). Victor Davis added a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Dylan Overstreet and Pat Sodemann tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.
CLASHES WITH CARTHAGE: Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage share a rivalry that dates back to the 1946-47 season. IWU owns a 105-27 lead in the 132-game history between the two conference foes, and has won the past six meetings.
Monday will mark the first game between the two since IWU ousted Carthage in the CCIW Tournament Quarterfinals Feb. 25, 2020. Illinois Wesleyan overcame a halftime deficit and downed Carthage, 74-67. Cory Noe and Matthew Leritz tied for the team lead with 18 points apiece, as IWU shot 10-for-22 from three-point range.
LUCKY NO. 7: Illinois Wesleyan secured its seventh straight win over Carroll with a 72-54 win in Waukesha, Jan. 22. IWU has topped CU by an average of 16.1 points over the seven-game stretch.
NO NIGHTS OFF: The CCIW has proven to be one of the toughest conferences from top-to-bottom across all of Division III. As noted by Bob Quillman (@IWUHoopscom on Twitter), the conference has not seen a team survive the conference season unscathed since 1973. The league currently features three top-25 teams in No. 3 IWU, No. 12 Elmhurst, and No. 14 Wheaton.
FACING THE BEST OF THE BEST: The No. 3 Titans have played one of the more difficult schedules in all of Division III this season. IWU has faced five current top-25 opponents, including the current No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the country, Wash U and UW-Oshkosh, respectively. The Titans are 3-2 against top-25 opponents this year, including wins against the current No. 5, No. 7, and No. 12 teams in the country. IWU's schedule is the 12th-toughest according to NCAA stats.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Although the Shirk Center is one of the best home court advantages across all of Division III, the Titans have impressed on the road as well. In the past 10 seasons, the Titans have a 73-45 record away from Shirk. In the past five seasons specifically, IWU boasts a 40-17 record on the road.
RANKINGS ON REPEAT: Illinois Wesleyan is one of 20 programs that have appeared in at least 100 D3Hoops.com Top-25 rankings. In fact, the Titans 178 appearances in the weekly poll are ninth-most all-time. The Titans are currently ranked No. 3 in the poll.
ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan wraps up its roadtrip with a jaunt to R.A. Faganel Hall Wednesday night, Jan. 26, to take on No. 12 Elmhurst University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
