BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The 13th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball hosts Millikin University Wednesday, Jan. 21, for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin clash inside the Shirk Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Titans return to their home floor carrying a 13-3 overall standing. IWU is tied atop the conference standings at 5-2 in league games following an 80-61 win at Wheaton College, Jan. 17. Millikin has mustered a 12-5 standing and sits level at 4-4 in CCIW play. The Big Blue most recently stunned league-leading Carthage College, 77-74, in Decatur, Jan. 17.
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.
HONORING THE CHAMPS: At halftime of Wednesday's bout, Illinois Wesleyan will recognize the 2025 IWU women's volleyball team. This past fall, the Titans swept their way to CCIW regular season and tournament titles. IWU advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and just the third time in program history, while posting a 28-3 overall record.
BUCKET, DENIED!: The Titans have made it hard on opponents to score this season as IWU is limiting opponents to 66.1 points per game, good for 31st-best across Division III. Illinois Wesleyan's stingy defense has come behind the most blocks per game (6.9) and the seventh-best field goal percentage defense (38.0) in the country.
Individually, Noah Cleveland leads the CCIW and is 20th nationally with 34 blocks. Mason Funk is second in the league, 35th nationally, with 29 rejections, while Brady Kuehl's 14 swats are fifth-most in the CCIW, with Nathan Boldt's 11 ranked ninth.
LAWRENCE LOCKS IN: Over the last seven games, junior Casen Lawrence has served as quite the spark for the Green and White. The sharpshooter has seemingly found his groove from distance, knocking down 30-of-53 three-point attempts over the past seven games. Lawrence, who is connecting on 56.6 percent of his three-balls since Dec. 18, is averaging 14.5 points per game over the stretch. A weapon from beyond the arc, he has hit four-or-more three pointers in five of IWU's past six games.
LONG-STANDING RIVALRY: IWU and Millikin have met on 242 occasions, with the first match-up held in the 1909-10 season. The 242 total contests rank second in Division III men's basketball in most-played rivalries. The Titans hold a 163-79 advantage against the Big Blue all-time, including winning 34 of the last 37 meetings.
OFFENSE VS DEFENSE: Wednesday will pit the top defense in the conference against one of the better offensive teams in the league. The Big Blue are converting 46.8 percent of their shots from the field, good for third in the league and 70th nationally, and have been exceptional from beyond the arc. Millikin is draining 36.7 percent of its three-point tries, the 32nd-best clip nationally. On the flipside, the Titans are limiting opponents to a conference-best 66.1 points per game and a 38.0 field goal percentage (seventh nationally).
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' 210 appearances in the weekly poll are fifth-most all-time as well as the most in the CCIW. They are currently ranked No. 13 in the poll.
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 31.0 minutes per game while putting up 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over eight games.
Moreover, Niego has served as a steady hand all season long with 70 assists to 18 turnovers. His 3.89 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the CCIW and is fourth-best across Division III.
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: With 16 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 19.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest. He is shooting 60.8 percent from the field on the year and has added a team-high 34 blocks with 26 steals and 26 assists.
Nationally, Cleveland is fifth with 188 rebounds, while he is fourth with 11 double-doubles. The sophomore rookie sits 13th nationally in rebounds per game (11.8), and 20th in blocks (34). He is a three-time CCIW Player of the Week and Bevo Francis Top-100 Watch List honoree.
KEYS TO VICTORY: Through 16 games, IWU has established several keys to victory. Illinois Wesleyan is 12-0 when scoring 60+ points, and also boasts a 4-0 mark when limiting opponents to no more than 59 points. Additionally, the Green and White is 10-1 when taking a lead into the half compared to 3-2 when trailing or tied at the break.
BENCH BOSS: In his 20th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 362-167 overall record. His career mark includes 193 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 hit the road as the second half of the CCIW slate gets underway Saturday, Jan. 24, at Carroll University. Tipoff is set for 4:15 p.m. at Van Male Fieldhouse and will follow a top-25 matchup between the No. 13 IWU women's basketball team and 20th-ranked CU.
