BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team overpowered No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Championship game Saturday night, Nov. 9, inside the Shirk Center. Illinois Wesleyan rolled to 2-0 on the season with an 86-66 victory and claimed the Sikma Invite title for the second time in the past four years.

Seniors Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) and Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) were named to the all-tournament team, with Williams being selected as the weekend's Most Valuable Player.

It was another balanced offensive showing for the Titans as five players scored in double figures. Senior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) dropped 18 points, including 16 in the first half, on 8-of-12 shooting. Sophomore Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) and senior Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) contributed a dozen points each, with Williams adding 11. Junior Karlo Colak (Glencoe, Ill.-New Trier) tallied 10 points. 

Anderson tied Wilmsen for the team lead with seven rebounds. 

IWU's balanced output was efficient as the Green and White hit 55.7 percent of its shots from the floor. The Titans were 4-of-15 from distance and 14-of-19 from the charity stripe. UW-Platteville was held to 37.5 percent from the field and 7-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Pioneers went 17-of-24 from the free throw line. 

The Titans dominated the boards to the tune of a 42-22 rebounding advantage and a 56-18 lead in points in the paint. 

A five-point run by reigning Division III National Player of the Year, Logan Pearson put the Pioneers ahead, 13-10, with 13:49 to play in the first half. 

Anderson battled his way inside for a bucket before Roper swiped a pass and fed freshman Josh Fridman (Glenbrook, Ill.-Glenbard North) for a layup. The bucket, which marked the first points of Fridman's career, pushed the Titans ahead, 14-13. 

A slick pass from Anderson led to a Roper dunk as IWU held onto a 18-17 advantage with around 10 minutes to play in the period. 

The senior duo came through on a five-point scoring spurt moments later as Roper drilled a three-ball off a dish from sophomore Jackson Niego (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township). Anderson pulled down the ensuing defensive rebound and was immediately rewarded with a pass into post for another bucket. The layup drove IWU in front, 27-23.

Illinois Wesleyan used an 8-2 run to stretch its lead to double digits, 43-32, before carrying an eight-point lead into halftime. 

The Titans never let up in the second half, extending their lead to as many 26, en route to the 20-point victory.

Illinois Wesleyan will take a week off before returning to action at University of Wisconsin-Stout, Nov. 16. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m.