BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team looks to bounce back Saturday, Dec. 30, when it travels to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for its final non-conference game of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
A two-game west coast swing was not kind to the Titans, as IWU dropped a pair of games to California Lutheran University and the University of Redlands, Dec. 18-19. IWU enters Saturday's game with a 7-5 overall record. UW-Stevens Point carries a 5-4 record into this weekend's bout and, like the Titans, looks to get back on track. The Pointers most recently were downed by nationally-ranked Calvin University, 81-70, Dec. 18. UWSP will host Milwaukee School of Engineering Thursday, Dec. 28, before tangling with the Titans, Dec. 30.
A live stream and live stats of the game will be available through links on the men's basketball schedule page of iwusports.com, while Eric Stock will also have the call on WESN.
SOMETHING ABOUT 12: Just over a year removed from a season ending injury, Nick Roper has seemingly found his stride for the Titans. The 6-foot-8 junior averaged 17.5 points per game on 15-of-25 shooting (60 percent) in IWU's two-game trip to California. He also went for 10 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. Roper put together the best performance of his career in IWU's comeback attempt against Redlands, Dec. 19. The St. Louis, Mo. native hit career-highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds as he picked up his second career double-double.
In the month of December, Roper, who dons the No. 12 jersey, is averaging 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game with a field goal percentage of 57.4 (31-for-54). He has been incredibly efficient from inside the arc, boasting a two-point field goal percentage of 65.0.
TALE OF THE TAPE: The Titans and Pointers have played seven times previously, with UWSP holding a 4-3 edge. UW-Stevens Point has won the last three bouts, including last season's Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Championship clash. The Pointers slipped past the Titans, 71-67, Nov. 13.
Illinois Wesleyan is in search of its fist win over UW-Stevens Pointers since March 2, 2012, when IWU came back to bounce UWSP in the NCAA Tournament, 72-56. John Koschnitzky led the Titans with 15 points, while Stephen Rudnicki added 14 off the bench.
SURE TO BE DIFFERENT: Just 412 days separate the Titans and Pointers from their last meeting, which saw UWSP upend IWU on its home court, Nov. 13. The Pointers erased the Titans' 10-point halftime lead to come away with a 71-67 triumph. While the two teams are not that far from that bout, Saturday's game will look much different than when the teams met a season ago. Aside form the location change, UW-Stevens Point will be with just 46.5 percent of its scoring from last year's Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Championship game. Meanwhile, IWU returns 65.7 percent of its point production from the clash. Illinois Wesleyan returns three players that put up double-digit points in the game by way of Harrison Wilmsen (12), Nick Roper (11), and Ryan Sroka (10). The lone player on UWSP's roster this season to hit double figures against IWU in the game is Jake Buchanan, who went for 15 points.
ROPER WITH THE HAMMER IN CALIFORNIA: Junior Nick Roper caught the attention of #d3hoops fans across the country with his baseline drive and one-hand slam against Redlands, Dec. 19.
NO SOUP FOR YOU!: The Titans have been elite defensively through the team's first 12 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 37.9 percent, the best mark in the CCIW and the 24th-best nationally. Additionally, IWU is giving up just 64.2 points per game, good for 46th in Division III.
In their win over North Central on Saturday, Dec. 9, the Titans gave up just 43 Cardinal points. This is the least amount of points an IWU team has allowed since the 2014-15 season, when the Titans defeated Nazareth College on Dec. 29, 2014 at the Cal Lutheran Holiday Classic, 84-41.
STRONG SECOND HALF: Illinois Wesleyan's success this season has come in large part to the Titans' ability to lock in over the final 20 minutes of play. That continued Saturday, Dec. 9, as IWU grabbed a 66-43 win at North Central. The Titans outscored the Cardinals 39-23 in the second half. IWU has been outscored in the second half twice this season (at Elmhurst, 61-42 & at Cal Lutheran, 33-26).
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 4-3 in white, 2-2 in green, and 1-0 in black.
ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan closes out its five-game road stint with a rare Sunday CCIW matchup, Jan. 7. The Titans will travel to Augustana College for a 4:15 p.m. tipoff, with the game serving as the second leg of a doubleheader with the IWU women's basketball team.
