BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - With the non-conference portion of the schedule winding down, the ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team travels to Belton, Texas for the Cru Classic hosted by University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Dec. 29-30. IWU will take on LeTourneau University Sunday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. before battling host, UMHB Monday, Dec. 30, at 4 p.m.
    Illinois Wesleyan's record sits at 9-1 overall ahead of its trip south. The Titans have won three in-a-row, most recently shocking No. 2 WashU, 84-68, inside the Shirk Center, Dec. 19. LeTourneau carries a three-game win streak into the showdown with the Titans and holds a 10-2 record. The Yellowjackets are coming off three straight home games, that last of which saw LU take down Pacific Lutheran University, 89-69, Dec. 19. UMHB, which will take on Concordia College Moorhead, Dec. 29, prior to its bout with IWU, is 9-3 on the year. The Cru split a pair of game at the Don Lane Classic, Dec. 21-22, hosted by Transylvania University. There, Mary Hardin-Baylor fell to Transy, 70-63, and toppled Albion College, 63-47.
    A live stream and live stats will be available, while Eric Stock will have the call on WESN alongside Bob Quillman. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

DEJA TWO: The Green and White defeated No. 2 WashU in convincing fashion Thursday, Dec. 19, as the Titans never trailed in the 84-68 win over the Bears. WIth the win, IWU knocked off the No. 2 ranked team for the second time this season (UW-Platteville - W, 86-66 - Nov. 9).

FUNK IT UP: A sophomore studying pre-med, Mason Funk has had a clear head since wrapping up final exams earlier this month. In two games since the fall semester concluded, Funk is averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 blocks per contest. His career-high scoring efforts have seen the local product connect on 15-of-25 shot attempts (60.0 percent) and 7-of-13 three-point tries (53.8 percent). His latest showing garnered CCIW weekly honors.

SPLASH CITY: The Titans converted a season-high 13 three-pointers in their win over WashU, Dec. 19, the most by the Green and White since the 2022-23 campaign. The last time IWU hit a baker's dozen or more triples in a game was when the Titans knocked down 14 at George Fox, Jan. 24, 2023. IWU went 14-for-31 from beyond the arc in that game and saw six different players drill three-pointers. Lucas Heflen led the way with a 5-of-9 showing, while Harrison Wilmsen and Trey Bazzell hit three apiece.
    IWU's strong three-point shooting effort against the Bears featured treys by six different players as Mason Funk and Josh Fridman led the way with four each.

CLASHING WITH THE CRU: IWU and UMHB have met on the hardwood just one time in the program's history, with the lone battle coming in the title game of the 2023 Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational, Nov. 11. The Titans trailed by double-digits in the in the game, but a Trey Bazzell three-pointer pulled IWU within one, 60-59, with 6:51 to play. UMHB used a seven-point run to hold off an Illinois Wesleyan comeback, 71-68.

IWU IN THE LONESTAR STATE: Illinois Wesleyan will travel to Texas for the first time since the 2019-20 season when IWU heads to the Cru Classic, Dec. 29-30. In the Titans' last trip to the Lonestar State, they split a pair of games at the Concordia (Texas) Classic. IWU fell in a foul fest at Concordia, 88-69, Dec. 29, 2019, before Doug Wallen's buzzer-beater lifted the Titans past Sul Ross State, 82-81, Dec. 30, 2019.
    Furthermore, IWU holds a 5-1 record in the state of Texas since the 2009-10 season.

HARD TO COME BY: Through 10 games this season, Illinois Wesleyan has established itself as one of the stingiest defenses in all of Division III. The Titans are ranked 10th nationally in field goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to 36.9 percent. IWU is allowing just 66.4 points per game, a mark which is slotted 54th-best across Division III.
    The Titans will face quite the task when they play LeTourneau, Dec. 29. The Yellowjackets ranked 13th nationally with a field goal percentage of 49.7 percent and are 37th in scoring offense with 85.6 points per game. UMHB has also been efficient on the offensive end, carrying a field goal percentage of 46.5 percent (79th nationally) and put ups 78.9 points per game (101st nationally).

FRIDMAN FREED: Freshman Josh Fridman has found his footbing since the calendar turned to December. Over four games, including two starts, Fridman is averaging 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. The rookie is shooting 15-for-23 (65.2 percent) from the field and 6-for-11 from beyond the arc (54.5 percent) over the four-game stretch.
    Fridman turned in his best performance of the season against No. 2 WashU, Dec. 19, scoring a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting including hitting 4-of-5 three-pointers.

BENCH BOSS: In his 18th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 334-159 overall record. His career mark includes 177 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.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan will complete non-conference play in Texas before returning its focus to CCIW play in the New Year. IWU begins a run of 15 straight league games with a trip to Wheaton College Saturday, Jan. 4, for a 7:15 p.m. tipoff at King Arena.