McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team is set to face Wheaton College on Saturday, January 4th at King Arena in Wheaton, Illinois. The Titans, ranked ninth nationally, hold a 10-2 overall record and are 2-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play. Their most recent performance at the Cru Classic saw them defeating LeTourneau University but falling short against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Wheaton College enters the game with a challenging season so far, holding a 3-8 record and seeking their first conference win after losing five consecutive games. Their last match was a narrow defeat against North Park University on December 14th.

Live streaming and statistics for the game will be available, with Eric Stock providing commentary on WESN alongside Joel Swanson. Information on how to follow along can be found on IWU's sports website.

Illinois Wesleyan has been noted for its rebounding prowess this season, boasting a +9.4 rebounding margin which ranks them 26th nationally. They achieved a season-high of 56 rebounds against LeTourneau, marking it as one of the highest totals in their program history.

The Titans have demonstrated resilience with significant comebacks this season, notably overcoming double-digit deficits twice. Notable performances include Hakim Williams and Marko Anderson achieving double-doubles in their game against Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Historically, Illinois Wesleyan leads their all-time series against Wheaton with an 87-53 advantage since their first encounter in the 1946-47 season. Despite this lead, Wheaton has won eight of the last thirteen meetings between the two teams.

Defensively, Illinois Wesleyan has limited opponents to an average of 67.4 points per game and holds a national ranking of 19th in field goal percentage defense at 37.8 percent.

Under head coach Ron Rose's leadership, now in his eighteenth season, the Titans have claimed several CCIW titles over recent years including outright championships in 2013, 2014, 2022, and 2024.

Sophomore Mason Funk has made notable contributions recently by averaging impressive statistics across various categories since concluding his fall semester exams.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan will continue their road trip facing North Park on January 8th as they aim to strengthen their standing within the league.