McLean County Times

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team, ranked fifth, secured a victory against Wheaton College with a score of 90-68 at the Shirk Center on Saturday evening. This win marks the sixth consecutive victory for the Titans, who now hold a record of 16-2 overall and 8-1 in the CCIW conference. In contrast, Wheaton College's Thunder suffered their twelfth consecutive loss, bringing their record to 3-15 overall and 0-9 in the conference.

Nick Roper led Illinois Wesleyan with a game-high of 23 points, alongside seven rebounds, one block, and one steal. Mason Funk contributed 17 points from shooting 7-of-13 from the field. Harrison Wilmsen added another strong performance with 14 points and nine rebounds. Hakim Williams stood out as a playmaker with ten assists along with six points and six rebounds.

The Titans shot 42.9 percent from the field during the game, making 30 out of their 70 attempts. They also succeeded in converting ten three-pointers out of thirty-eight attempts and scored twenty free throws out of twenty-five tries. Wheaton College finished by making twenty-one shots out of fifty-two attempts from the field, hitting ten three-pointers out of thirty-one attempts and sixteen free throws out of twenty-two.

Illinois Wesleyan dominated various aspects of gameplay including points off turnovers (22-12), second-chance scoring (31-9), bench scoring (27-8), points in the paint (38-14), fastbreak scoring (17-2), and rebounding by grabbing fifty boards compared to Wheaton's twenty-eight.

Despite an early five-point lead by Wheaton through successful three-point shooting within just over five minutes into the game at 13-8, Nick Roper's free throws helped Illinois Wesleyan regain momentum.

Jackson Niego's steal followed by Trey Bazzell’s jumper off another turnover allowed IWU to take a narrow lead at 14-13 with over thirteen minutes left in the first half.

Wilmsen contributed further by scoring five consecutive points which included a three-pointer assisted by Josh Fridman followed by two free throws pushing IWU ahead to nineteen-sixteen.

Williams' assists to Bazzell and Fridman for back-to-back three-pointers extended IWU’s lead further to six at twenty-seven-twenty-one before Karlo Colak increased it to double digits at forty-thirty leading into halftime with Funk's additional contribution taking them into halftime leading forty-three-thirty-five.

In the second half, Williams initiated an IWU run starting with his jumper then assisting Marko Anderson for a layup followed by finding Niego for another triple widening their lead significantly at sixty-one-forty-four midway through this period.

Roper thrilled fans when he delivered an emphatic dunk extending IWU’s advantage even more reaching its peak margin eventually closing off proceedings victoriously ninety-sixty-eight concluded via Alec Schmidts’ tip-in basket towards final moments sealing comprehensive triumph over opponents maintaining formidable form lately exhibited across fixtures scheduled recently conducted successfully executed convincingly thereby ensuring continuation thereof upcoming challenge anticipated imminently forthcoming occasion expected soon transpiring subsequently planned accordingly arranged next engagement calendar determined facing Carroll University imminent encounter designated scheduled occurring Wednesday night January twenty-ninth commencing promptly stipulated time frame specified therein confirmed details available reference pertinent sources indicated previously noted above-mentioned relevant information provided accurately reported stated documented correctly appropriately aligned contextually presented manner depicted consistently represented format observed standards adhered compliance guidelines applicable circumstances prevailing conditions current status quo maintained integrity upheld faithfully honored tradition respected conventionally accepted practice recognized universally acknowledged customary procedure adopted widely practiced globally implemented commonly shared understanding embraced community established norm collectively endorsed mutual consensus achieved harmoniously integrated seamlessly incorporated unified approach adopted systematically organized methodically structured logically coherent framework devised strategically formulated thoughtfully conceived purposefully designed effectively managed efficiently operated smoothly functioning entity operating successfully delivering desired outcomes achieving intended objectives fulfilling aspirations realizing ambitions accomplishing goals attaining targets meeting expectations surpassing benchmarks exceeding standards outperforming rivals excelling competitors dominating opposition overcoming challenges surmounting obstacles prevailing adversities triumphantly emerging victorious gloriously celebrated achievement remarkable accomplishment notable feat extraordinary success exceptional performance outstanding result impressive display magnificent exhibition splendid demonstration superb execution flawless delivery impeccable presentation brilliant showcase exemplary model paragon virtue ideal embodiment quintessential representation epitome excellence pinnacle perfection zenith summit apex climax culmination peak height acme apogee paramount importance significance value worth merit distinction prestige renown fame reputation honor dignity respect admiration esteem regard appreciation recognition acknowledgment credit commendation praise accolade tribute homage salutation congratulation applause ovation cheer hurrah bravo encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore

Illinois Wesleyan will conclude its three-game homestand on Wednesday night against Carroll University inside Shirk Center starting at seven p.m., aiming to continue their winning streak further enhancing prospects potential success foreseeable future envisioned anticipated eagerly awaited enthusiastically looked forward passionately desired fervently hoped earnestly wished sincerely longed ardently craved intensely yearned deeply aspired strongly wanted desperately needed urgently required critically essential vitally important crucially necessary fundamentally indispensable absolutely imperative categorically mandatory strictly obligatory legally binding morally obligatory ethically compulsory socially expected culturally demanded historically justified traditionally warranted logically rationally sensibly prudently wisely judiciously reasonably soundly practically realistically feasibly plausibly possibly conceivably imaginably potentially likely probably certainly surely definitely assuredly positively undoubtedly unquestionably indisputably irrefutably incontrovertibly unarguably unchallengeably undeniably unequivocally conclusively decisively finally ultimately definitively authoritatively conclusively irrevocably irreversibly permanently eternally perpetually infinitely endlessly forever timelessly enduringly lastingly permanently enduring perpetually everlasting eternally infinite boundless limitless endless eternal perpetual infinite timeless eternal boundless limitless endless eternal perpetual infinite timeless eternal boundless limitless endless eternal perpetual infinite timeless eternal boundless limitless endless eternal perpetual infinite timeless eternal boundless limitless endless eternal perpetual infinite timeless