BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin season rolls on for the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team Saturday, Dec. 9, with a trip to North Central College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and will follow the IWU women's basketball team's game with NCC.
    The Titans pushed their record to 6-3 on the season and 2-1 in the CCIW with a win over preseason favorite, North Park University, Dec. 6. The Green and White used a strong second half to down the Vikings, 70-56, inside the Shirk Center. North Central sits at 3-5 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW ahead of Saturday's showdown. The Cardinals saw a two-game win streak snapped with a 95-75 loss at No. 22 Carthage College, Dec. 6.
    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 and the live stream alongside Joel Swanson. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

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 Wednesday, Dec. 6, as IWU dispatched North Park, 70-56, inside the Shirk Center. The Titans outscored the Vikings 43-28 in the second half. IWU has been outscored in the second half once this season (at Elmhurst, 61-42).

TURN UP THE FUNK: Freshman Mason Funk put together a career day for the Titans Wednesday, Dec. 6, making the most of his career-high 17 minutes of action. The Normal, Ill. native went for career-highs of 11 points and five rebounds, while also adding one assist, a block, and a steal. For the season, Funk is averaging 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game on a 47.8 field goal percentage. Through three CCIW games, Funk has boosted those numbers to 6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and holds a 61.5 clip from the field.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Saturday's contest will serve as the 172nd all-time meeting between the Titans and Cardinals. Illinois Wesleyan holds a 122-49 lead in the all-time series.
The home team won each of last season's two contests, with IWU edging NCC, 87-85, at the Shirk Center, Dec. 10. The Cardinals came back to defeat the Titans, 85-78, in overtime Feb. 11.

CLEARED FOR LANDING: The Titans will return to Gregory Arena to take on the Cardinals Saturday night, Dec. 9. The Green and White hold a 7-11 record at the venue since the 2010-11 season. IWU dropped its last game at NCC in overtime. Illinois Wesleyan led by 14 at halftime, but North Central's buzzer-beating three at the end of regulation sent the game to OT. NCC put up 16 points to IWU's nine in the bonus period to down the Titans.

HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN?: The answer to the question "How deep is the ocean?" may yield the same answer as "How deep is the Titan's bench?" In the IWU's first nine games, a total of 12 Titans are averaging over nine minutes per game. Additionally, the the Green and White is outscoring their opponents 246-150 in bench points and five different IWU players have been the team's leading scorer this season.
    Specifically, junior Shane Miller cracked into the rotation on Saturday night, Dec. 2, against Carroll, playing over 14 minutes, and recorded two rebounds, two steals, and three points. Freshmen Jackson Niego and Mason Funk are also progressively gaining playing time, each averaging around 10 minutes per contest in league play.

SIX FEET, EIGHT INCHES OF ROPE: St. Louis native Nick Roper has burst onto the scene in his junior campaign and has been especially impressive in CCIW play. Plagued by injury last year, Roper has started all nine games for the Titans this season and averages the third most minutes on the team. In his last three contests, Roper leads the Titans with 16.7 points per game on 57.6 percent shooting from the floor. In a win over Carroll, Dec. 2, Roper recorded career highs with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!: The Titans have been elite defensively through the team's first eight 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 38.1 percent, the best mark in the CCIW and the 33rd-best nationally. Additionally, IWU is giving up just 65.1 points per game, good for 53rd in Division III.

A TEST BEFORE FINALS?!: With non-conference play mostly behind them, the Titans were tested with several top-25 opponents before the CCIW gauntlet gets into full swing. In fact, according to the Massey Ratings, the Titans hold the 14th-toughest schedule in all of Division III. Out of the nine teams that the Titans have played this season, four of them have been ranked or are currently receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll. WashU and Elmhurst, both teams that the Titans have faced, are currently ranked 16th and 21st, respectively. Still remaining on IWU's schedule this year are No. 22 Carthage, another bout with 21st-ranked Elmhurst, and a Redlands squad that is receiving votes.

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 4-2 in white, 1-1 in green, and 1-0 in black.

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 2.14. His mark, which is second-best in the conference, ranks 93rd nationally. The Round Lake, Ill. native is averaging 3.3 assists per game with 30 dimes to his credit this season, both of which lead the team.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan takes an extended break from action before returning to the hardwood in California, Dec. 18-19, at the Kingsmen Classic. The touranment, hosted by Cal Lutheran, will see IWU take on CLU and Redlands.