BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The 16th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team is back in action this weekend, Nov. 22-23, at the Gorlok Classic hosted by Webster University. The two-day, four-team tournament will see the Titans take on Westminster College Friday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m. IWU will square off against tournament host, Webster, Saturday, Nov. 23 in a 3 p.m. tipoff.
    Illinois Wesleyan carries a 3-0 record into the weekend following its first road win of the season. The Green and White led from wire-to-wire in a 69-57 victory at University of Wisconsin-Stout last Saturday, Nov. 16. Both Westminster and Webster head into the tournament with eyes on their first win of the season. The Bluejays enter Grant Gymnasium at 0-3 on the season, most recently falling to Knox, 77-59, Nov. 19. Meanwhile, Webster also holds an 0-3 standing. The Gorloks fell to neighboring WashU, 92-66, Nov. 29.
    A live stream as well a live stats of the game will be provided by Webster, while Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will have the call on the Titan radio broadcast. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

HOMECOMING OF SORTS: The weekend will serve as a homecoming of sorts for seniors Nick Roper (MICDS) and Harrison Wilmsen (Priory), as well as sophomore Brady Kuehl (Parkway West) who came to IWU from the St. Louis area.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Illinois Wesleyan holds a combined record of 9-0 against this weekend's opposition, holding undefeated records against both Westminster and Webster all-time. IWU is 2-0 against the Bluejays and sits at 7-0 versus in the Gorloks.
    Coincidentally, the last time the Titans ran into Westminster and Webster came back at the 2018 rendition of the Gorlok Classic, where IWU went 2-0 on the weekend. A 22-point effort by Brady Rose and a near double-double from Charlie Bair (12 points, seven rebounds) powered 19th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan to a 95-64 win, Nov. 23, 2018. The Titans followed that up with a 77-62 win at Webster the very next day. Four players scored in double figures, led by Jason Gregoire's 13 points. Rose added a near double-double with eight points and eight assists.

SHUTDOWN STOUT: The Green and White's tenacious defense limited UW-Stout to a field goal percentage of just 26.2 percent Saturday, Nov. 16. The Blue Devils converted just 17-of-65 shots from the floor and 3-of-24 three-point tries. The opposing field goal percentage was the lowest IWU has held an opponent to since slowing WashU to a 25.5 percent clip (14-of-55), Nov. 22, 2023.
    Through three games, Illinois Wesleyan is limiting opponents to 34.6 percent shooting. IWU is ranked 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense and 38th in three-point field goal percentage defense (24.4).

BENCH BOSS: In his 18th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 325-158 overall record. His career mark includes 171 CCIW wins, the most of any active head coach in the conference.
The Titans won the 2013, 2014, 2022, and 2024 CCIW titles outright and shared the 2018 regular season championship with Augustana. Illinois Wesleyan claimed the 2021 CCIW Championship in a COVID-shortened season as well as the regular season title last season.

POLLING STATION:  Illinois Wesleyan is one of 28 programs that have appeared in at least 100 D3hoops.com Top-25 rankings. In fact, the Titans 190 appearances in the weekly poll are eighth-most all-time as well as the most in the CCIW. The Titans are currently ranked No. 16 in the poll.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan will remain on the road for a pre-holiday bout at University of Chicago Wednesday, Nov. 27. Tipoff between the Titans and Maroons is scheduled for 4 p.m.