McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team is set to begin its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play on Wednesday, December 4. The Titans, ranked No. 5, will face Carthage College at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois, with the game starting at 7 p.m.

Illinois Wesleyan enters the match with an undefeated record of 6-0. Their latest victory was a comeback win against the University of Chicago on November 27, where they overcame a 16-point deficit to win 80-74. Meanwhile, Carthage College has a record of 4-2 and recently secured a victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on November 30.

The game will be available for viewing through a live stream featuring Eric Stock and Joel Swanson as commentators. Live stats can also be accessed through the IWU sports website.

A strong start to the season has seen Illinois Wesleyan matching their best start since the 2021-22 campaign. With another win, they could achieve their best opening streak since the 2018-19 season. The Titans have demonstrated solid defensive capabilities, limiting opponents to a field goal percentage of just 35.9%, ranking them among the top ten nationally in Division III.

In terms of historical performance against Carthage College, Illinois Wesleyan holds a significant lead with a record of 109 wins out of their past meetings since the rivalry began in the 1946-47 season.

Head coach Ron Rose is leading his alma mater for an eighteenth season with an impressive overall record. Under his guidance, IWU has won several CCIW titles and shared championships over recent years.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan will continue its CCIW schedule with a game against Carroll University on Saturday, December 7.