BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team welcomes Carroll University to the Shirk Center for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin bout Saturday, Dec. 2. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. and will serve as the second part of a twin bill with the IWU women's basketball team.
    Illinois Wesleyan looks to get back on track following a 90-73 loss at Elmhurst University Wednesday night, Nov. 29. The loss dropped the Titans to 4-3 on the season and 0-1 in league play. Meanwhile, Carroll is coming in at 6-1 overall, 1-0 in the CCIW and carries a three-game win streak. The Pios are coming off a convincing, 77-61, win at North Park University, Nov. 29.
    Fans can tune into the game via live stats, live stream, or radio broadcast. Eric Stock will call the action on the court on 88.1 FM WESN as well as the live stream. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

GREEN DOT: The Green Dot leadership team, SAAC, Student Senate, and CAB are co-sponsoring this Saturday's games. Green Dot is the bystander intervention training program used on campus that is meant to prevent Power-Based Personal Violence. The purpose of the Green Dot theme at these games is to continue to spread awareness about Green Dot, the importance of bystander intervention, and the sentiment that power-based personal violence has no place in our campus community. In anticipation of these games, both basketball teams have gone through Green Dot training.
    The Green Dot leadership team, SAAC, and Student Senate will be tabling at Saturday's basketball games with information about Green Dot, prizes (including Green Dot rally towels!), and will be selling Green Dot game T-shirts with proceeds going to a local organization that supports the prevention of power-based personal violence.

MEN IN BLACK: Illinois Wesleyan sported its alternate uniforms in its win at WashU, Nov. 22, picking up the Titans first win in the black uniforms. The alternate was introduced last season. IWU's record by uniform this season stands at 2-2 in white, 1-1 in green, and 1-0 in black.

CLASHES WITH CARROLL: Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll have met on the hardwood a total of 89 times ahead of Saturday's league tilt, with the Titans holding a commanding 71-18 lead against the Pioneers all-time. IWU has won nine straight against the Pioneers. CU's last win over the Green and White came back in the 2018-19 campaign, when the Pios upended Illinois Wesleyan, 90-83, inside the Shirk Center, Dec. 15, 2018.
    Most recently, the Titans swept the 2022-23 season series. IWU bested CU, 73-59, at Van Male Fieldhouse Dec. 3, 2022, before beating the Pioneers, 79-61, at the Shirk Center, Feb. 4.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Titans remain at home this Saturday to enjoy one of the greatest athletic venues in NCAA Division III. The Shirk Center has been home to more than 650 Titan basketball games between both the men and women. The men hold a 300-66 record on their home floor, good for a .820 win percentage.

BOUND TO BE A BATTLE: The Titans will be tasked with shutting down one of the top teams in the CCIW this season when the Pioneers pay a visit to the Shirk Center Saturday night. Carroll leads the league and is 20th nationally in scoring offense at 81.9 points per game. The Pioneers are shooting 47.3 percent from the floor (61st nationally) and are the top rebounding team in the league with 42.29 caroms per contest.

PAYING OFF: The 2022-23 season saw Hakim Williams thrust into point guard duties for the Titans, leaving Williams to play out of his usual position for most of last season. The time as IWU's point guard is paying off for Williams, who has the Green and White's best assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.00. His mark, which is second-best in the conference, ranks 48th nationally. The Round Lake, Ill. native is averaging 3.9 assists per game with 27 dimes to his credit this season, both of which lead the team.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!: The Titans have been elite defensively through the team's first seven games of the season. Not only is Illinois Wesleyan one of the top defensive teams in the CCIW, IWU is among the top in Division III. IWU is holding opponents to a field goal percentage of 38.4 percent, the best mark in the CCIW and the 42nd-best nationally. Additionally, IWU is giving up just 65.9 points per game, good for 66th in Division III. The Green and White has also limited opponents to a three-point field goal percentage of 31.0, the second-best mark in the conference.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan is remains at home Wednesday, Dec. 6, with a game against CCIW Preseason favorite North Park. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will see IWU recognize the CCIW Tournament Men's Soccer Champions at halftime.