McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University's men's basketball team is set to face Augustana College in a conference game at the Shirk Center, Bloomington, Illinois. The match will commence at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, following the women's basketball game against the Vikings. This event marks IWU's annual PinkZone contest aimed at raising funds for the community cancer center.

Currently leading the conference with a 9-1 record and an overall standing of 13-6, Illinois Wesleyan recently defeated Wheaton College 73-64. In contrast, Augustana holds a 6-13 overall record and stands at 3-7 in league games after their recent loss to Elmhurst University.

Live stats and streaming of the game will be available online. Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will provide commentary on WESN radio.

The PinkZone event will feature apparel designed by IWU volleyball players Annika Altekruse and Morgan Harrington, available for purchase throughout the day.

Historically, Illinois Wesleyan leads their series against Augustana with a tally of 100 wins to 78 losses since their first encounter in the 1914-15 season. The Titans secured a victory over Augustana earlier this year with Ryan Sroka contributing significantly to that win.

IWU Athletic Director Mike Wagner is noted for his past as an Augie football player, while Rachel Dawson serves as an athletic trainer for IWU after her tenure at Augustana.

Junior guard Hakim Williams has been recognized for his versatile performance across various statistical categories within the conference. Meanwhile, Harrison Wilmsen has been pivotal in recent games with notable scoring contributions.

The Shirk Center continues to be a stronghold for IWU teams with an impressive home record over several decades. Defensively, IWU ranks among Division III's top teams by limiting opponents' field goal percentages effectively.

Illinois Wesleyan's success often correlates with maintaining low turnover rates during games. Their uniform choices have also seen varied results this season.

Ryan Sroka has shown improved performance since the start of 2024 with efficient shooting metrics despite limited three-point success recently.

Looking ahead, IWU plans to visit Millikin University on January 31 for another conference matchup.