McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team achieved a significant victory against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, securing the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Championship. The game took place on Saturday night at the Shirk Center, where Illinois Wesleyan emerged victorious with an 86-66 win. This marks their second Sikma Invite title in four years.

Key players for Illinois Wesleyan included seniors Hakim Williams and Harrison Wilmsen, who were named to the all-tournament team. Williams received additional recognition as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The Titans showcased a balanced offensive performance with five players scoring in double figures. Senior Nick Roper led with 18 points, followed by Mason Funk and Marko Anderson each contributing 12 points, while Williams added 11 points and Karlo Colak scored 10.

Anderson also tied with Wilmsen for leading rebounds, both securing seven each. The Titans demonstrated efficiency by making 55.7 percent of their shots from the floor and maintained a strong rebounding advantage over UW-Platteville with a margin of 42-22.

A notable moment in the game was when Logan Pearson from UW-Platteville briefly put his team ahead early in the first half. However, Illinois Wesleyan quickly regained control with contributions from Anderson and Roper, including a key layup by freshman Josh Fridman marking his first career points.

Illinois Wesleyan extended their lead significantly in the second half, ultimately achieving a decisive 20-point victory. They will have a week-long break before facing off against the University of Wisconsin-Stout on November 16.