BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University's men's basketball team puts its undefeated record on the line Saturday, Nov. 29, for a post holiday clash tilt with the University of Wisconsin-Stout inside the Shirk Center. Tipoff is slated for 12 p.m.
The Titans enter the weekend with a 5-0 overall record after winning the Mike Turner College Classic hosted by Albion College, Nov. 21-22. The Green and White rolled to convincing wins over Wisconsin Lutheran College (97-42) and Kenyon College (89-59) to claim its second in-season tournament title of the year. UW-Stout brings a 2-3 standing to Bloomington and looks to snap a two-game skid. The Blue Devils most recently dropped a road game at Hamline University, 85-68, Nov. 25, and are seeking their first win over a ranked opponent since Jan. 13, 2024.
Fans can catch Eric Stock and Joel Swanson on the broadcast as well as WESN, while live stats will also be provided. Links can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
BUCKET, DENIED!: The Titans have made it hard on opponents to score this season as IWU is limiting opponents to 61.0 points per game, good for 12th-best across Division III. Illinois Wesleyan's stingy defense has come behind the second-most blocks per game (7.6) and the fourth-best field goal percentage defense (33.3) in the country.
Individually, Noah Cleveland leads the CCIW and is 25th nationally with 12 blocks. Mason Funk is second in the league, 85th nationally, with eight rejections, while Brady Kuehl's six swats are fifth-most in the CCIW (156th nationally).
TURNER CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: After leading Illinois Wesleyan to the Mike Turner College Classic title, senior Karlo Colak was named the weekend tourney's Most Valuable Player. Noah Cleveland joined Colak on the all-tournament team.
FINDING LOVE IN LONG DISTANCE: Illinois Wesleyan knocked down 14 three-pointers in a lopsided win over Wisconsin Lutheran, Nov. 21, before knocking down 9-of-18 triples against Kenyon, Nov. 22. The Green and White's 14 three-point makes are the most since draining 14 at George Fox Jan. 24, 2023. Saturday's showing against Kenyon marked the first time IWU had shot 50 percent or better since going 8-of-14 from beyond the arc (57.1 percent) against Cal Lutheran, Nov. 8, 2024.
For the season, Illinois Wesleyan is shooting 38.4 percent from three-point distance, a mark that ranks 36th-best nationally.
TINGLEY THROWS DOWN: After suffering a season-ending injury in an exhibition game at Division I Butler prior to the official start of last season, senior Nick Tingley is making the most of his minutes in 2025-26. In 11 minutes on the court this season, Tinley has gone 6-for-6 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 2-for-3 at the free throw line. He is averaging 8.0 points per game, good for sixth-best on the team. Tingley's return to the hardwood has been highlighted by two dunks.
PLENTY TO GO AROUND: Fifteen Titans have scored points this season, with eight averaging more than 5.0 points per game. Noah Cleveland leads a trio of double-digit scorers are 15.0 points per game. Karlo Colak follows with 11.2 ppg, while Mason Funk adds 10.6 points per contest. Josh Fridman checks in with an average of 9.2 and Nick Tingley adds 8.0 ppg. Casen Lawrence (7.2 ppg), Brady Kuehl (7.2 pgg), and Brady Ruggles (6.6 ppg) round out the top-eight scorers.
SQUARING OFF WITH STOUT: Illinois Wesleyan holds a 2-0 record against UW-Stout ahead of Saturday. The Titans topped the Blue Devils in the initial meeting, 89-75, as IWU scored a win in Honolulu, Hawaii. Chris Silagi dropped 24 points off the bench and John Camardella posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. More recently, the Titans rode a first-half lead to a 69-57 triumph in Menomonie, Wis. Nov. 16, 2024. Nick Roper paced IWU with 23 points and six rebounds.
CLEVELAND COLLECTS CCIW HONOR: For his role in leading the Titans to a 3-0 week, Noah Cleveland was named the CCIW's Player of the Week, Nov. 24. He averaged 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest, while adding five blocks, two steals, and two assists. Cleveland shot 64.5 percent from the field, going 20-of-31, as the Titans improved to 5-0.
BENCH BOSS: In his 20th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 354-164 overall record. His career mark includes 187 CCIW wins, the most of any active CCIW head coach.
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 2025 CCIW Tournament title.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans will turn their attention to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin slate following Saturday's bout with the Blue Devils. The Titans will kickoff conference play at preseason favorite Carthage College Wednesday night, Dec. 3. IWU's first three league games will take place on the road as Illinois Wesleyan is set to serve as host to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship, Dec. 3-6. In fact, the Titans will spend the entire month of December away from the Shirk Center with their next home game set for Jan. 3.
POLLING STATION: Illinois Wesleyan is one of nine programs that have appeared in at least 200 D3hoops.com Top-25 rankings. In fact, the Titans 204 appearances in the weekly poll are seventh-most all-time as well as the most in the CCIW. They are currently ranked No. 16 in the poll.
