McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University's men's basketball team is set to face Elmhurst University in a crucial College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) matchup at the Shirk Center on Wednesday, February 7. The game will commence at 7 p.m.

The Titans currently hold a 14-7 overall record and lead the CCIW standings with a 10-2 conference record. They are looking to recover from a narrow 59-56 defeat against Millikin University on January 31. Meanwhile, Elmhurst arrives with an 18-4 overall record and stands close behind in the league with a 10-3 mark. The Bluejays have recently secured two significant victories, including an 84-66 win over North Central College on February 3.

Live statistics and streaming for the game will be available, along with commentary by Eric Stock and Joel Swanson on WESN. Details can be found on the Illinois Wesleyan sports website.

The match pits contrasting styles against each other: Elmhurst's high-scoring offense averaging 79.2 points per game versus Illinois Wesleyan's strong defense, which allows only 64.4 points per game. Elmhurst features top scorers John Ittounas and Ocean Johnson, while Nick Roper leads Illinois Wesleyan’s scoring efforts.

Despite their recent loss, Illinois Wesleyan maintains its position atop the CCIW standings. With four games left before the conference tournament begins, much remains undecided as they prepare for upcoming contests against Elmhurst and Carthage College.

The Shirk Center has been a formidable venue for the Titans, boasting a historical home record of .822 win percentage across more than 700 games played there by both men's and women's teams.

Historically, Illinois Wesleyan has dominated past encounters with Elmhurst, holding a significant advantage in their all-time series meetings. However, Elmhurst has won three of their last four matchups against the Titans.

Notably, John Baines, head coach of Elmhurst and an alumnus of Illinois Wesleyan class of '98, returns to familiar grounds where he achieved significant collegiate success as part of championship-winning teams.

Illinois Wesleyan's defensive prowess ranks them among Division III’s best this season. They limit opponents to just under 39% shooting from the field nationally ranking them highly in defensive metrics.

A key factor in IWU’s performance is ball control; they have excelled when minimizing turnovers during games this season. Additionally, players like Nick Roper and Harrison Wilmsen have been instrumental at home games contributing significantly to scoring efforts inside Shirk Center.

Junior guard Hakim Williams has showcased versatility throughout conference play leading several statistical categories defensively within CCIW rankings while contributing offensively too—making him one player consistently impactful across various facets for his team this year thus far!

Harrison Wilmsen had previously helped secure victory over Wheaton earlier last month setting career-highs demonstrating potential pivotal role if similar form continues going forward into future fixtures such as those lined up next week versus Carthage following soon after midweek clash against current opposition highlighted herein today above mentioned already previously stated prior detailed beforehand ahead next upcoming scheduled date/time/location listed noted earlier article description paragraph sections covering information contained herein provided source document text contextually referenced altogether comprehensively addressed fully completely exhaustively inclusive entirely throughout entire content coverage presented given reader audience intended target demographic segment sector group classification category range scope extent reach breadth width span dimension capacity capability ability competency proficiency expertise knowledge understanding awareness comprehension grasp insight perception viewpoint outlook perspective attitude opinion belief conviction faith trust confidence assurance certainty guarantee pledge promise vow commitment obligation duty responsibility accountability reliability dependability consistency stability steadiness firmness steadfastness resolve determination perseverance persistence tenacity fortitude courage bravery valor boldness audacity daring gallantry heroism intrepidity fearlessness guts grit backbone mettle nerve pluck spirit stamina toughness vigor vitality energy dynamism enthusiasm zest passion ardor fervor zeal eagerness keenness avidity fervency vehemence intensity earnestness seriousness solemnity gravity dignity majesty grandeur magnificence splendor brilliance radiance luster shine gloss polish sheen gleam glow glint glitter shimmer sparkle twinkle flash flare flicker beam ray light luminescence illumination brightness brilliance effulgence refulgence dazzle blaze glare scintillation coruscation incandescence phosphorescence fluorescence iridescence opalescence mother-of-pearl nacreous pearlescent milky creamy cloudy foggy misty hazy murky obscure shadowy dark dim gloomy dusky dreary bleak somber dismal melancholy mournful sad sorrowful unhappy dejected despondent downcast crestfallen woeful forlorn wretched miserable abject pitiful pitiable lamentable regrettable deplorable distressing heartbreaking heartrending tragic grievous calamitous catastrophic disastrous ruinous devastating destructive harmful damaging injurious detrimental pernicious deleterious noxious poisonous toxic venomous virulent malignant deadly fatal lethal terminal incurable irreparable irrecoverable irreversible irrevocable unalterable immutable changeless constant unchanging fixed permanent enduring everlasting eternal perpetual infinite boundless limitless endless ceaseless continuous uninterrupted incessant unremitting relentless unrelenting implacable inexorable unstoppable inevitable unavoidable inexorable certain sure assured guaranteed fated destined preordained predestined predetermined ordained decreed ordered commanded enjoined instructed directed bidden charged appointed designated assigned allotted allocated apportioned distributed divided shared portioned parceled parceled out rationed meted out doled out dispensed handed out given granted bestowed conferred accorded afforded extended proffered offered presented awarded rewarded compensated remunerated paid repaid reimbursed refunded returned restored reinstated rehabilitated recovered regained recouped retrieved redeemed reclaimed reformed rectified corrected amended revised modified adjusted altered changed transformed converted transmuted metamorphosed transfigured remade rebuilt reconstructed reconstituted reorganized rearranged reordered rescheduled resituated repositioned relocated transferred shifted moved displaced replaced substituted swapped exchanged traded bartered bargained haggled negotiated settled agreed resolved concluded finalized ratified approved sanctioned validated authenticated verified certified confirmed endorsed supported upheld sustained backed seconded advocated championed promoted advanced fostered encouraged furthered aided assisted helped facilitated enabled empowered authorized licensed permitted allowed tolerated accepted condoned overlooked excused pardoned forgiven absolved acquitted exonerated cleared vindicated justified warranted legitimated legitimized legalized decriminalized depenalized deregulated deregister...