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Casen Lawrence Shoots a Three Versus Wheaton 2-4-2026
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
71
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL 12-8,6-5 CCIW
82
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 17-4,9-3 CCIW
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL
12-8,6-5 CCIW
71
Final
82
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
17-4,9-3 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL 36 35 71
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 42 40 82

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Five Double-Digit Scorers Send Titans Past Thunder

Cleveland finishes one assist shy of triple-double

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Sophomore Noah Cleveland (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) put up a near triple-double and junior Casen Lawrence (St. Louis, Mo.-Westminster Christian) was lights out from distance as the 16th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team toppled Wheaton College, 82-71, inside the Shirk Center Wednesday night, Feb. 4. With the win, IWU moved to 17-4 on the year and 9-3 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Wheaton slid to 12-8 (6-5 CCIW).

Cleveland finished one assist shy of a triple double, as the rookie posted a stat line that included 12 points, a career-high 17 rebounds, and a career-best nine assists alongside two blocks and a steal. Lawrence drained 8-of-12 three-pointers for a game-high 24 points. 

Three other Titans finished in double-figures, with senior Karlo Colak (Glencoe, Ill.-New Trier) tallying 16 points and seven boards. Sophomore Connor Williams (Palos Park, Ill.-Stagg) added a career-high 13 points on a perfect 5-for-5 night that included three triples, while junior Mason Funk (Normal, Ill.-University High) contributed 11 points, seven caroms, and a team-high four rejections.

The Green and White were red-hot from beyond the arc, knocking down 17-of-32 trey attempts. Lawrence's eight makes are tied for second-most in program history, while IWU's 17 three-point makes are the most since Nov. 17, 2017 when the Titans converted 20 against Alma.

Overall, the Titans hit 31-of-58 field goals, good for a 53.4 clip. Wheaton fired at a 44.4 field goal percentage (28-for-63) and went 8-of-23 from beyond the arc. The home team went just 3-for-10 at the charity stripe, while the visitors finished 7-of-10.

The Green and White accrued leads in rebounding (38-30), second-chance scoring (12-8), and bench scoring (16-13). The Thunder held advantages in the paint (34-24) and points off turnovers (22-8). 

Illinois Wesleyan raced out to an 8-0 lead behind a quick floater from Funk and back-to-back three-pointers from Lawrence. Wheaton found the twine for its first points on a triple at the 17:36 mark, but IWU used a three from Colak to move ahead, 13-5. The long ball from Colak, which came off an assist by Cleveland, forced a Thunder timeout with 16:14 on the clock.

After a left-handed finish at the rim by Connor Williams, Lawrence splashed another three-pointer to stretch the lead to 15. The three continued to fall for IWU as senior David Williams (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) and Lawrence hit from deep to give the home team a 34-20 advantage with six minutes to go in the half.

Wheaton responded with a 14-2 run as Illinois Wesleyan's lead dissolved to two, 36-34. Connor Williams drove baseline and pulled up for a 10-footer to give IWU a four-point cushion before Cleveland beat the buzzer on a putback.

The Titans used 55.2 percent shooting (16-of-29) and nine three-pointers to secure a 42-36 halftime lead. 

A strong start to the second half by Wheaton knotted the score at 45 all, but a three-ball from Colak reclaimed an IWU advantage, 48-45. The triple sparked the home team as Illinois Wesleyan charged ahead on the back of a 10-1 run. After a circus shot by Cleveland, Lawrence fooled the defense with a shot fake and swished a three-pointer. 

The Green and White never looked back, using triples from Connor Williams and Lawrence to put a bow on an 82-71 victory.

Illinois Wesleyan remains at home for senior night Saturday, Feb. 7 against Elmhurst. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. and will serve as the second half of a doubleheader with the IWU women's squad.
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