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Men's Basketball bench cele
Kodiak Creative
69
Carroll (WI) CAR 6-2,1-1 CCIW
79
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 5-3,1-1 CCIW
Carroll (WI) CAR
6-2,1-1 CCIW
69
Final
79
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
5-3,1-1 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Carroll (WI) CAR 27 42 69
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 31 48 79

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Powers Past Pios

Roper notches first career double-double

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team picked up its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win of the season Saturday night, Dec. 2, with a 79-69 victory over Carroll University. The Titans improved to 5-3 (1-1 CCIW) with the win, while the Pios dipped to 6-2 (1-1 CCIW).

Junior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) led the Titans with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, both of which were good for career-highs. Senior Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley) and Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) along with junior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) also finished in double figures. Sroka scored 13 points, with Yoder and Wilmsen adding 10 points apiece. The 6-foot-10 Wilmsen also tied a career-high with eight boards. 

Illinois Wesleyan shot 46.7 percent from the field and a blistering 11-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Titans were 12-for-21 at the charity stripe, while the Pioneers went a perfect 9-for-9. Carroll finished 25-for-62 from the floor (40.3 percent) and 10-of-27 (37 percent) from the long line.

Illinois Wesleyan held a 42-32 lead on the glass, which helped establish leads in points in the paint (34-20) and second chance scoring (12-4). IWU narrowly lost the turnover battle, 13-12, but led in steals, 9-8. 

Roper leveled the game at 11 all around the 11-minute mark with a free throw. Yoder then found the junior guard on the wing for a three-pointer in transition to put IWU in front, 14-11, halfway through the period. 

Yoder later found freshman Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) for a three from the wing to stretch the Titan lead to four, 21-17, but Carroll came back with a five-point run to take the lead, 22-21.

Freshman Jackson Niego (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) drove to the free throw line and pulled the defense in, creating a passing lane for a three-pointer by junior Trey Bazzell (Fairbury, Ill.-Prairie Central). Sroka followed with a pull-up and a three of his own. Junior Shane Miller (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) closed the half with a tough bucket through contact to push IWU ahead, 31-27, at the break.

Illinois Wesleyan used a 14-2 run in the second half to break the game open. Miller swiped a pass which led to a Sroka three and proved to be the start of the run. After a Bazzell triple, Funk rejected a shot to get the Titans off and running, where Yoder found Roper for a three. The sequence forced Carroll to call a timeout with IWU up 12 with 12:03 to play.

Out of the regrouping session, Funk converted a tough circus finish at the rim. The and-one play from the freshman stretched the Titan lead to 57-45.

The Pioneers pulled within eight with just under five minutes to play, but Illinois Wesleyan closed strong to take the win, 79-69.

The Green and White remains at home Wednesday, Dec. 6, as the Titans play host to preseason favorite North Park University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

 
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