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NORMAL, IL - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team squared off against Illinois State University for the first time in more than 50 years Sunday, Oct. 29. IWU fell to ISU, 78-46.(Photo by Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative)
Kodiak Creative
70
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 16-7,12-2 CCIW
58
Carthage CARTH 15-8,9-5 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
16-7,12-2 CCIW
70
Final
58
Carthage CARTH
15-8,9-5 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 33 37 70
Carthage CARTH 27 31 58

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Clinches No. 1 Seed in CCIW Tournament, Share of Regular Season Title

Titans secure 33rd conference title in program history

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team defeated Carthage College Saturday, Feb. 10, on the road at Tarble Arena to claim at least a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title. IWU ran its record to 16-7 overall and 12-2 in league play to lock up the No. 1 seed and hosting responsibilities in the upcoming CCIW Tournament. Carthage now sits at 15-8 overall and 9-5 in the CCIW.

Four of five starters scored in double figures to lead the Titans in the victory. Junior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) continued his strong conference season with 18 points and three rebounds. Junior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go along with four boards, while senior Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic) flirted with a double-double. Yoder finished with 11 points, seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds. Senior Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley) rounded out the quartet with 10 points.

Juniors Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) and Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) tied for the team lead with eight rebounds apiece as IWU held a 40-33 lead on the glass.

It was a defensive battle from the jump as neither team shot over 40 percent from the floor. Illinois Wesleyan connected on 22-of-57 attempts, 38.6 percent, while Carthage went 20-for-55, good for a 36.4 clip. The Titans knocked down five three-pointers on 21 attempts (23.8 percent), while the Firebirds were held to 5-for-26 from distance (19.2 percent). Carthage hit four of its five three-ball makes in the first half. IWU went an astonishing 21-for-25 at the free throw line, including key freebies to ice the game down the stretch, while CC converted 13-of-19 tries.

The bench proved big for the Green and White, as IWU held a 17-9 lead in bench scoring. The Titans also led in fastbreak scoring (8-4). Carthage held the upperhand in points off turnovers (9-6) and points in the paint (24-20).

Williams pulled in a long rebound and raced down the floor for a tough layup to break a 46-46 tie with eight minutes to play. 

A pair of mid-range jumpers from Anderson and a triple from sophomore Karlo Colak (Glencoe, Ill.-New Trier) powered the Titans ahead by seven, 57-50, to force a Carthage timeout with 4:27 to play. 

The Firebirds converted a pair of free throws out of the timeout, before Yoder drew a double team on a drive and kicked to Williams for a three-ball from the top of the key. 

Leading by six, 60-54, with just over two minutes to play, Williams converted a driving layup to extend the cushion to eight. Yoder then knocked down a pair of free throws to give IWU a double-digit advantage and all but seal the game as IWU escaped, 70-58.

Illinois Wesleyan hits the road once more this regular season, as the Green and White travels to North Park University Wednesday night, Feb. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.

 
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