BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the Shirk Center for the first time in 35 days following a six-game roadtrip as the Titans host Carroll University Saturday, Jan. 3. Tipoff is set for 4:15 p.m. and will follow the IWU-CU women's basketball game.
    The Titans head into the New Year sporting a 9-3 overall record and are winners of three in-a-row, but sit at 1-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Illinois Wesleyan most recently came away with two wins in New York City, Dec. 29-31. IWU edged out Yeshiva University, 72-71, before besting Hamilton, 69-57, on New Year's Eve. Traveling to Bloomington with a 6-5 overall mark, the Pios hold a 1-1 league record. Carroll collected home wins over Marian University (75-67) and Edgewood College (95-68) over winter break.
    Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will call the action on the CCIW Network, which will also air in an audio only format on WESN, while live stats will also be available. Links can be found on the men's basketball page of iwusports.com.

LAWRENCE LOCKS IN: Over the last three games, junior Casen Lawrence has served as quite the spark for the Green and White off the bench. The sharpshooter has seemingly found his groove from distance, knocking down 10-of-19 three-point attempts over the past three games. Lawrence, who is connecting on 52.6 percent of his three-balls since Dec. 18, is averaging 10.7 points per game over the stretch. A weapon from beyond the arc, he played a crucial role as IWU defeated Yeshiva, Dec. 29, as the Maccabees attempted to neutralize the Titans with a 2-3 zone. Lawrence went for a season-high 14 points, his highest output as a Titan so far, with four three-pointers and two game-winning free throws.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Titans enjoy one of the greatest athletic venues in NCAA Division III. The Shirk Center has been home to more than 750 Titan basketball games between both the men and women. The men hold a 320-69 record on their home floor (.824 win pct.).

HIGH-FIVE: In a balanced offensive attack against Yeshiva, Monday, Dec. 29, five players scored in double figures. Mason Funk scored a team-high 20 points, Casen Lawrence chipped in 14, and Noah Cleveland added 12. Karlo Colak and Brady Keuhl went for 11 and 10 points, respectively. It is the second time this season five Titans have hit double figures, with the other occurrence taking place against Chicago, Nov. 19.

HAVE A BREAK, NOAH: Since the fall semester concluded Dec. 12, Noah Cleveland has elevated his play to another level. The sophomore is averaging 23.5 points and 12.5 rebounds over four games, while connecting on 65.5 percent of his shot attempts (36-of-55) and 50 percent of his three-point tries (4-of-8).
    Fittingly, D3SportsData recognized Cleveland as one of the top Division III  performers in the month of December. For the month, he put up a stat line of 20.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while connecting on 61.6 percent of his shots.

CLASHES WITH CARROLL: Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll have met on the hardwood a total of 93 times ahead of Saturday's tilt, with the Titans holding a commanding 75-18 lead against the Pioneers all-time.
    IWU has won 13 straight against the Pioneers, the longest streak by either team in the series that dates back to 1955. CU's last win over the Green and White came back in the 2018-19 campaign, when the Pios upended Illinois Wesleyan, 90-83, inside the Shirk Center, Dec. 15, 2018.
Last season, the Titans come out on top in two tight contests. After edging out the Pioneers, 72-66, in Waukesha Dec. 7, 2024, IWU outlasted CU, 81-78, in overtime Jan. 29. Marko Anderson came up big for the Green and White with six points in OT, while Nick Roper went for 27 points.

BUCKET, DENIED!: The Titans have made it hard on opponents to score this season as IWU is limiting opponents to 65.9 points per game, good for 31st-best across Division III. Illinois Wesleyan's stingy defense has come behind the most blocks per game (6.6) and the 10th-best field goal percentage defense (37.7) in the country.
    Individually, Noah Cleveland leads the CCIW and is 14th nationally with 25 blocks. Mason Funk is second in the league, 36th nationally, with 20 rejections, while Brady Kuehl's 12 swats are fifth-most in the CCIW (163rd nationally).

KEYS TO VICTORY: Through 12 games, IWU has established several keys to victory. Illinois Wesleyan is 8-0 when scoring 60+ points, and also boasts a 3-0 mark when limiting opponents to no more than 59 points. Additionally, the Green and White is 7-1 when taking a lead into the half compared to 2-2 when trailing or tied at the break.

BENCH BOSS: In his 20th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 358-167 overall record. His career mark includes 188 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.

JAXED UP: With Josh Fridman sidelined to injury, Jackson Niego was inserted into the starting lineup as Illinois Wesleyan's starting floor general. The junior has averaged 32.0 minutes per game while putting up 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over six games.
    Moreover, Niego has served as a steady hand also season long with 46 assists to nine turnovers. His 5.11 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the CCIW and is third-best across Division III.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: With 12 collegiate games under his belt, sophomore Noah Cleveland has established himself as one of the great bigs in NCAA Division III this season. The Normal, Ill. product leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with his averaged of 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per contest. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field on the year and has added a team-high 25 blocks with 20 steals and 16 assists.
Nationally, Cleveland is second nationally with 144 rebounds, while he is fourth with eight double-doubles. The sophomore rookie sits seventh nationally in rebounds per game (12.0), and 14th in blocks (25).

ON THE HORIZON: A three-game homestand rolls on Wednesday, Jan. 7, as the Titans take on Augustana College inside the Shirk Center. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.