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Waukesha, WI - December 07 - NCAA Men's Basketball - #5 Illinois Wesleyan at Carroll (Photo by Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative)
Kodiak Creative
77
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 14-2,6-1 CCIW
60
Millikin MIL-U 9-6,3-3 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
14-2,6-1 CCIW
77
Final
60
Millikin MIL-U
9-6,3-3 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 36 41 77
Millikin MIL-U 36 24 60

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Holds Off Big Blue

Titans host Augustana Wednesday, Jan. 22

DECATUR, Ill. – A strong second half propelled the sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team to a 77-60 victory over College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe Millikin University at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill. Wednesday, Jan. 15. The Titans move to 14-2 on the season and 6-1 in CCIW action. MU dips to 9-6 and 3-3 in the league.

The Titans turned in a 27-for-61 shooting effort, good for a 44.3 percent clip. IWU went 10-for-27 (37 percent) from deep, and a 13-for-20 (65 percent) performance at the charity stripe. MU went 24-for-51 (47.1 percent) in the game, with a six-for-17 (35.3 percent) showing from the three-point line, and knocked down six of nine free throws (66.7 percent)

Holding a significant advantage in rebounds, 39-25, Illinois Wesleyan utilized its 13-3 edge in offensive boards to turn in a 16-5 lead in second chance points. The Green and White also saw an upperhand in points in the paint (34-24), fastbreak scoring (16-3), and caused 17 MU turnovers to the Titans' 12, resulting in a hefty 22-6 lead in points off turnovers. The Big Blue took the advantage in bench scoring, 26-18. 

Sophomore Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) led the team with 16 points and nine rebounds to go along with three blocks, three steals, and an assist. Junior Karlo Colak (Glencoe, Ill.-New Trier) put together a 14-point performance, besting his career-high, while senior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) and freshman Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) contributed 12 apiece. Roper was also good for seven rebounds and a pair of assists. 

Senior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) had a team-lead five assists and four steals while also recording five rebounds and eight points. 

Illinois Wesleyan came out strong, owning a lead of as many as 10 in the opening half, but ultimately came out of the break tied, 36-36.

Roper broke the stalemate with a layup out of the break. Funk kicked off a scoring frenzy with a three-ball before notching a steal at the top of the key for an easy layup. Another layup by Funk forced Millikin to take a timeout as the Titans moved ahead 45-39. 

Millikin picked up five-straight points to bring the game back within one, forcing head coach Ron Rose to call a timeout with 14:21 left to play. 

Fridman ended four minutes of scoreless play with a three-pointer to give IWU a 48-44 advantage. 

Back-to-back buckets for Roper and a pair of free throws by Fridman gave IWU a 58-49 buffer with 5:46 left to play. The Titans went on a 14-11 run, but it was back-to-back dunks by senior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) and Funk that finished off the win in thrilling fashion. 

Illinois Wesleyan will host Augustana for the first bout of a three-game home stint Wednesday, Jan. 22.
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