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Hakim Williams defense vs. North Central - 01.11.25
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
64
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 18-3,10-2 CCIW
72
Winner North Central (IL) NCC 12-9,5-7 CCIW
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
18-3,10-2 CCIW
64
Final
72
North Central (IL) NCC
12-9,5-7 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 30 34 64
North Central (IL) NCC 41 31 72

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Hoops Slips Up at NCC

Titans' win streak snapped at eight

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team saw its win streak halted at eight with a 72-64 loss at North Central College Wednesday night, Feb. 5. The Titans slipped to 18-3 on the season and 10-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with the loss, while the Cardinals climbed to 12-9, 5-7 in league play.

Freshman Josh Fridman (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) and senior Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) scored 11 points each to lead the Titans. Senior Marko Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) scored 10 points and grabbed six boards. 

Senior Hakim Williams (Round Lake, Ill.-Round Lake) was IWU's top rebounder with seven boards, alongside eight points and a team-best five assists. 

Illinois Wesleyan shot 47.9 percent from the floor (23-for-48) and 7-for-20 (35 percent) from beyond the arc. North Central connected on a 45.6 clip, going 26-for-57, and was held to 5-for-15 from distance. NCC made the most of its trip to the free throw line, knocking down 15-for-17, while IWU was just 11-for-17.

The Titans led in second-chance points (12-6) and bench scoring (21-12), but the Cardinals corralled advantages in points off turnovers (18-9) and fastbreak scoring (8-3).

The Green and White trailed by 11 coming out of halftime, but showed a strong second-half front. Senior Nick Roper (St. Louis, Mo.-MICDS) converted a layup and Fridman drilled a three to cut the deficit to six, 41-35, in the first two minutes out of the break.

Less than a minute later, Roper found Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) for a bucket and Williams hit a triple to force a NCC timeout. Trailing 43-40, Fridman found his way to the line and converted two to make it a one-point difference. 

After Anderson pulled in a defensive rebound, Funk glided his way for a bucket to give the Titans a 44-43 edge. The lead was short lived however, as the Cardinals rattled off seven straight points to regain control, 51-44.

Wilmsen ended the run with a bucket off a Williams assist and junior Karlo Colak (Glencoe, Ill.-New Trier) nailed a three to pull back within two, 51-49. 

A three-pointer by Fridman and a swipe and score by Williams drew the game even at 60 with 3:11 to play. The Cardinals responded with a jumper to take a 62-60 lead to put the home team up for good and ultimately take the 72-64 win.

Illinois Wesleyan hosts Millikin University Saturday, Feb. 15 and will serve as the second half of a doubleheader with the IWU women's team.
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