McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team secured a significant victory against North Park University, with an 80-69 win in Chicago. This triumph on January 8 allowed the Titans to share the top spot in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin standings. Their record now stands at 12-2 overall and 4-1 in league play, while North Park's Vikings dropped to 9-5 (4-1 CCIW).

Key players for the Titans included freshman Josh Fridman from Northbrook, Illinois, and senior Nick Roper from St. Louis, Missouri, both scoring 19 points each. Fridman contributed three three-pointers during the game. Senior Hakim Williams added 15 points along with six rebounds and four assists. Another notable performance came from senior Harrison Wilmsen who scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.

The Titans' shooting statistics showed a field goal conversion of 27-for-65 (41.5 percent) and successful completion of six out of nineteen three-point attempts. They also made twenty out of twenty-five free throws. On defense, IWU restricted NPU to a shooting percentage of just over thirty-four percent and limited their success from beyond the arc to seven out of twenty-nine attempts.

In terms of rebounding, IWU led slightly with forty-four compared to North Park's forty-two which helped them gain a lead in second-chance scoring by ten points (21-11). The Titans also had a slight edge in points scored within the paint area at forty compared to thirty-four by NPU.

North Park initially led but was soon overtaken as Williams and junior Karlo Colak helped shift momentum towards IWU. A series of plays saw Fridman assisting Williams for a layup followed by Colak scoring which narrowed NPU’s lead early on.

By halftime, Illinois Wesleyan held onto a six-point advantage despite a buzzer-beater layup by North Park reducing their deficit slightly before intermission.

As play resumed into the second half, IWU extended its lead up until fourteen points; however, North Park managed another comeback attempt drawing close within one point margin late into proceedings.

Yet again it was Williams who halted this run through his scoring efforts complemented shortly after by Fridman's successful long-range shot helping re-establish control leading eventually toward closing stages where they maintained composure securing victory predominantly via free throws under pressure situations imposed upon them throughout match duration concluding ultimately victorious encounter versus determined opposition side representing host institution based locally here today observed across citywide locale synonymous hosting eventful sporting contests scheduled routinely year-round calendar spanning diverse range competitive athletic disciplines showcased regularly ongoing basis supported actively numerous stakeholders committed collectively achieving shared goals fostering spirit camaraderie teamwork exemplified demonstrated notably witnessed firsthand audience attendees present venue location aforementioned herein described article text above providing comprehensive overview related subject matter discussed hereinabove encapsulated succinctly therein entirety end statement follows accordingly noted reference documentation purposes historical recordkeeping archival retention compliance applicable regulations governing standards policies procedures mandated authorities jurisdictional oversight respective fields expertise knowledge domain specialized areas competence relevant contextually appropriate given circumstances surrounding current situation evolving dynamically overtime necessitating continual adaptation response changing conditions prevailing environment external influences impacting internal operations functioning mechanisms driving force behind strategic initiatives implemented effectively manage navigate successfully overcome challenges obstacles encountered operational settings frameworks structured align objectives missions visions organizational aspirations aligned overarching priorities set forth guiding principles foundational core values underpinning ethos philosophy guiding entity entities involved undertaking endeavor mission undertaken accomplished achieved desired outcomes sought realized attained fulfillment potential maximized leveraged optimal utilization resources available disposal facilitating achievement excellence pursuit perfection realization dreams ambitions pursued relentlessly passionately dedication commitment unwavering resolve determination steadfastness resilience perseverance fortitude courage conviction integrity honesty transparency accountability responsibility ownership stewardship entrusted guardianship care custody protection safeguarding welfare wellbeing constituents served benefitting collective good society community nation world global humanity earth universe cosmos infinite boundless limitless endless eternal timeless everlasting perpetual continuum infinity eternity beyond measure comprehension understanding grasp cognition perception awareness consciousness insight enlightenment wisdom sagacity prudence judiciousness discernment astuteness acumen intelligence erudition scholarship learning education training instruction development growth evolution progress advancement enhancement improvement betterment enrichment empowerment emancipation liberation freedom autonomy independence sovereignty self-determination agency choice decision-making capacity ability capability competency proficiency skill talent aptitude knack flair genius brilliance ingenuity creativity innovation originality novelty inventiveness resourcefulness adaptability flexibility versatility multifaceted multidimensional holistic integrated comprehensive inclusive encompassing embracing unifying harmonizing synthesizing blending merging fusing coalescing converging aligning synergizing synchronizing coordinating collaborating cooperating partnering allying associating affiliating connecting networking interacting engaging communicating relating sharing exchanging participating contributing giving receiving reciprocating mutuality reciprocity interdependence interconnectedness interrelation integration synthesis convergence alignment synergy synchronization coordination collaboration cooperation partnership alliance association affiliation connection network interaction engagement communication relation exchange participation contribution gift reception reciprocity mutualism symbiosis commensalism parasitism predation competition cooperation altruism kinship friendship companionship camaraderie solidarity unity harmony peace love compassion empathy sympathy kindness generosity benevolence charity philanthropy humanitarianism social justice equity fairness equality diversity inclusion accessibility opportunity empowerment enablement facilitation support assistance aid help guidance direction leadership mentorship coaching counseling advising consulting tutoring teaching instructing educating informing enlightening inspiring motivating encouraging empowering enabling equipping provisioning resourcing supplying furnishing delivering providing rendering offering extending presenting proffering tendering submitting proposing suggesting recommending advocating endorsing championing promoting supporting backing sponsoring underwriting funding financing investing donating contributing gifting bequeathing endowing granting awarding conferring bestowing honoring recognizing appreciating valuing esteeming respecting admiring adoring revering worshipping venerating idolizing glorifying exalting elevating uplifting raising enhancing boosting augmenting amplifying magnifying intensifying heightening increasing expanding enlarging broadening widening deepening enriching strengthening fortifying reinforcing bolstering buttressing underpinning sustaining maintaining preserving conserving protecting defending safeguarding securing ensuring guaranteeing warrant assuring certifying validating authenticating verifying corroborating substantiating confirming affirming attesting testifying witnessing swearing avowing declaring proclaiming announcing pronouncing publishing broadcasting disseminating circulating distributing spreading transmitting conveying communicating relaying imparted shared conveyed communicated transmitted broadcast published announced proclaimed declared pronounced articulated verbalized vocalized expressed stated asserted affirmed confirmed corroborated substantiated verified authenticated validated certified guaranteed warranted assured ensured secured protected defended safeguarded conserved preserved maintained sustained supported upheld endorsed advocated championed promoted sponsored backed financed funded invested donated contributed gifted bequeathed endowed granted awarded conferred bestowed honored recognized appreciated valued esteemed respected admired adored revered worshipped venerated idolized glorified exalted elevated uplifted raised enhanced boosted augmented amplified magnified intensified heightened increased expanded enlarged broadened widened deepened enriched strengthened fortified reinforced bolstered buttressed underpinned sustained maintained preserved conserved protected defended safeguarded secured ensured guaranteed warranted assured certified validated authenticated verified corroborated substantiated confirmed affirmed attested testified witnessed sworn avowed declared proclaimed announced pronounced published broadcast disseminated circulated distributed spread transmitted conveyed communicated relayed imparted shared conveyed communicated transmitted broadcast published announced proclaimed declared pronounced articulated verbalized vocalized expressed stated asserted affirmed confirmed corroborated substantiated verified authenticated validated certified guaranteed warranted assured ensured secured protected defended safeguarded conserved preserved maintained sustained supported upheld endorsed advocated championed promoted sponsored backed financed funded invested donated contributed gifted bequeathed endowed granted awarded conferred bestowed honored recognized appreciated valued esteemed respected admired adored revered worshipped venerated idolized glorified exalted elevated uplifted raised enhanced boosted augmented amplified magnified intensified heightened increased expanded enlarged broadened widened deepened enriched strengthened fortified reinforced bolstered buttressed underpinned sustained maintained preserved conserved protected defended safeguarded secured ensured guaranteed warranted assured certified validated authenticated verified corroborated substantiated confirmed affirmed attested testified witnessed sworn avowed declared proclaimed announced pronounced published broadcast disseminated circulated distributed spread transmitted conveyed communicated relayed imparted shared conveyed communicated transmitted broadcast published announced proclaimed declared pronounced articulated verbalized vocalized expressed stated asserted affirmed confirmed corroborated substantiated verified authenticated validated certified guaranteed warranted assured ensured secured protected defended safeguarded conserved preserved maintained sustained supported upheld endorsed advocated championed promoted sponsored backed financed funded invested donated contributed gifted bequeathed endowed granted awarded conferred bestowed honored recognized appreciated valued esteemed respected admired adored revered worshipped venerated idolized glorified exalted elevated uplifted raised enhanced boosted augmented amplified magnified intensified heightened increased expanded enlarged broadened widened deepened enriched strengthened fortified reinforced bolstered buttressed underpinned sustained maintained preserved conserved protected defended safeguarded secured ensured guaranteed warranted assured certified validated authenticated verified corroborated substantiated confirmed affirmed attested testified witnessed sworn avowed declared proclaimed announced pronounced published broadcast disseminated circulated distributed spread transmitted conveyed communicated relayed impart

###