The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s basketball team advanced to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Championship game after defeating North Park University 80-70 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois. Senior Karlo Colak led the Titans with a career-high 26 points, making 10 of 14 shots and going five-for-five from the free throw line. He also contributed five rebounds and three assists.
Juniors Mason Funk and Casen Lawrence also scored in double figures for Illinois Wesleyan. Funk added 13 points and three blocks, while Lawrence had 15 points and three steals. The Titans shot 52.8 percent from the field, making seven three-pointers, four of which came from Lawrence. They were successful on 17 of their 24 free throw attempts.
North Park stayed close by converting nine out of 21 three-point attempts and was accurate from the free throw line, hitting 21 out of 22 shots. The Titans recorded eight blocked shots during the game, bringing their season total to within one block of their all-time single-season record set in the late 1980s.
Illinois Wesleyan held advantages in points scored in the paint (36-18), second-chance points (4-3), and bench scoring (18-7). North Park led in fastbreak points (14-6), while both teams scored equally off turnovers with 18 each. The Titans forced more turnovers than they committed but were edged slightly in rebounding.
During the first half, North Park went on a run to take an early lead before Illinois Wesleyan responded with key baskets from Colak and Lawrence to regain control before halftime. In the second half, North Park continued to threaten with outside shooting but could not overcome a stretch where Illinois Wesleyan extended its lead into double digits.
Illinois Wesleyan will play third-seeded Elmhurst University for the CCIW title at home on February 28 at 7 p.m.
The Titans are part of NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics and compete as members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The team plays its home games on campus in Bloomington, Illinois, uses green and white as its colors, and is nicknamed “Titans.” According to their official website, they have previously won national championships in NCAA Division III basketball in both 1997 and 2001.
