BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Days removed from securing the program's 33rd College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Championship, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team hits the road for the final time this regular season Wednesday, Feb. 14, for a league game at North Park University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
    The Titans stand at 16-7 overall and 12-2 in CCIW play ahead of their penultimate game. IWU most recently clipped Carthage College, 70-58, on the road, Feb. 10. With the victory, Illinois Wesleyan claimed at least a share of the regular season championship and locked up the No. 1 seed and hosting for next week's CCIW Tournament. North Park finds itself amid a three-game skid and will return to action for the first time since a 76-62 loss to Carthage, Feb. 7. NPU enters the bout with a 10-13 record including a 5-9 CCIW mark. The Vikings are vying for a conference tournament berth and are one of five teams jockeying for final three seeds. A win for NPU would be substantial in its fight to extend the season, while a loss for IWU would keep Elmhurst's hopes of sharing the regular season title alive.
    Live stats and a live stream of the game will be provided, while Eric Stock will also have the call on WESN. Links on how to follow the game can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of iwusports.com.

VIEWS FROM THE TOP: With the Titan's last two wins against Elmhurst and Carthage, two of the top three teams in the conference, Illinois Wesleyan clinched at least a share of the CCIW regular season championship and the right to host the CCIW Tournament. Illinois Wesleyan is a game and a half ahead of Elmhurst, who holds a 11-4 CCIW record, while Carthage is a couple games back at 9-5. With just two games until conference tournament play begins, the Titans can lock up the outright CCIW title with a win at North Park on Wednesday.
    Additionally, chaos is quickly ensuing below the top three spots in the CCIW. Carroll sits in the fourth place spot at 6-8 in CCIW play, while Millikin sits in the ninth spot at 4-10. Only two games separate six teams, so the final two regular season games will prove to be crucial for seeding purposes and determining who makes the CCIW tournament. North Park sits at 5-9 in CCIW play, currently in a tie for the seventh spot, but sits just a half game back of the fifth place spot and a full game back of the fourth spot.

CALL HIM RODMAN: One of the hardest working players in the CCIW, Marko Anderson may not stuff the stat sheet in the scoring column, but he makes up for it and then some with his efforts in the rebounding column. Averaging just 16 minutes per game in league play, Anderson leads the Titan's in rebounding with 6.4 rebounds per game. His 2.6 offensive rebounds per game are good for third in the CCIW.
In the Titan's win against Elmhurst, Anderson recorded nine total rebounds, seven of those coming on the offensive end in the first half. Doing his best Dennis Rodman impression, Anderson scored only two points in the game, a hook shot coming at the 13:35 mark in the second half.

6 FEET, 8 INCHES OF ROPE: Junior Nick Roper has established himself as one of the elite, all-around scorers in the CCIW. The most recent CCIW Player of the Week honoree, Roper averaged 21.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds in two huge wins versus Elmhurst and Carthage this week to secure the CCIW regular season title for the Titans. His unique skill set on the offensive end has proved difficult to guard, as Roper has scored in double figures in seven out of the Titan's last nine games. Roper is now up to seventh in the conference play in scoring with 14.4 points per game in 14 league games.

DUELS WITH THE VIKINGS: In a series dating back to the 1961-62 season, the Titans hold a 92-36 advantage over the Vikings. IWU has won 11 of the past 14 matchups, but NPU got the best of the Titans in their two matchups last season.
    Illinois Wesleyan claimed the last matchup, 70-56, inside the Shirk Center Dec. 6, 2023. Four Titans finished in double figures, led by Nick Roper's 15 points. Ryan Sroka added 12 points, while Harrison Wilmsen and Mason Funk posted 11 points apiece.

DIALED IN ON DEFENSE: The Titans have been one of the top defensive teams in Division III this season. In fact, IWU is limiting opponents to a field goal percentage of 38.7, the 24th-best nationally. The Green and White is giving up just 64.3 points per game (25th nationally).

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN W AND L: Illinois Wesleyan's record can be boiled down to its ability to take care of the ball. Through 23 games, IWU holds a 13-1 record when committing fewer than 15 turnovers. Conversely, when racking up 15-or-more miscues, Illinois Wesleyan is 3-6.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The junior duo of Nick Roper and Harrison Wilmsen have seemingly found a second home inside the Shirk Center this season. The St. Louis, Mo. natives have accounted for 216 of IWU's 656 points scored at home this season, good for 33 percent. Not only have the two posted plenty of points, they have done so at an incredibly efficient rate. Together, they have combined to go 81-of-142 (57.0 percent) from the floor and 14-of-32 (43.8 percent) from three-point range.  In nine home games, Roper leads the team with 12.9 points per contest, while Wilmsen is second with 11.1 points per game.

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT: Junior guard Hakim Williams contributes in just about every way possible for the Titans, whether it be distributing the ball, scoring himself, or playing some of the best defense in the conference. Williams' all-around strong play has him scattered throughout the CCIW's top-25 in several statistical categories. In fact, he is the only player ranked in the CCIW's top-15 in both blocked shots and steals in league play. Williams is tied for the conference lead with 1.7 steals per game and is second in blocks per contest at 1.0. Elsewhere, he is 15th in rebounding (5.2 rpg), tied for 19th in assists (1.8 apg), and 25th in field goal percentage (43.4).

LET HIM WORK: Harrison Wilmsen put together a career-day to help IWU hold off Wheaton, Jan. 17. The St. Louis, Mo. native scored a career-high 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting with six rebounds and a pair of assists. Illinois Wesleyan holds a 7-1 record this season when Wilmsen scores 15+ points, while the Titans are 10-1 when he meets that mark over his career.

ON THE HORIZON: The Titans close out the regular season Saturday, Feb. 17, with a Senior Day contest against North Central College. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. and will see the Titans recognize Luke Yoder, Ryan Sroka, Evan Schneider, and Grant Hardy prior to the game.