McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team is set to face Millikin University in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game on Saturday, February 15, at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois. The match will tip off at 4:15 p.m., coinciding with Senior Day celebrations. Fans attending the game can enjoy $5 smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which is also sponsoring a "free smoothie for a year" giveaway.

Illinois Wesleyan, currently ranked No. 13, returns to action after a week-long break. The Titans hold an 18-4 overall record and are 10-3 in conference play. They aim to recover from recent losses, including an 85-74 defeat against Carthage College on February 8. Millikin University enters the game having lost their last three matches, most recently falling to Wheaton College with a score of 86-78 on February 12.

The game will be available via live stream with commentary by Eric Stock and Joel Swanson. A radio broadcast and live stats will also be accessible through links on the IWU sports website.

Prior to the game's start, Illinois Wesleyan will honor seniors Hakim Williams, Trey Bazzell, Shane Miller, Nick Roper, Harrison Wilmsen, and Marko Anderson for their contributions over the past four years. During this period, the team has achieved a 73-32 overall record and secured two CCIW Regular Season titles along with an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 2022.

Illinois Wesleyan's games attract significant community support, averaging crowds of 1,332 over nine home games—the second-highest average in Division III basketball. This rivalry between IWU and Millikin is longstanding; they have met 241 times since their first matchup in the 1909-10 season. The Titans lead this series with a record of 162-79.

Senior Hakim Williams has been notable for his performance on the court this season. He recorded a career-high of ten assists during IWU's victory over Wheaton on January 25 and has surpassed the milestone of 200 career assists.

Illinois Wesleyan ranks high nationally in several categories: they are aggressive offensively with frequent trips to the free throw line—averaging 24.7 attempts per game—and maintain strong defensive statistics by limiting opponents' field goal percentage to just under forty percent.

Coach Ron Rose continues his successful tenure as head coach with an overall record of 343-162 across eighteen seasons. Under his leadership, IWU has claimed multiple CCIW titles.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan will conclude its regular-season home games against North Park University on Wednesday, February 19.