McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team secured a decisive victory in the NCAA Division III Tournament, defeating Bethany Lutheran College 101-67. The game took place on Friday evening at the Ratner Athletic Center, marking the Titans' first 100+ point game since February 13, 2019.

Junior Karlo Colak led the scoring for Illinois Wesleyan with a career-high 20 points. Senior Nick Roper contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while senior Harrison Wilmsen added 10 points. Both Roper and senior Hakim Williams recorded five assists each.

The Titans demonstrated efficiency in their shooting, converting 37 of their 68 attempts and achieving a solid performance from beyond the arc with 13 successful three-pointers out of 36 attempts. Their free throw accuracy was also notable, hitting 14 out of 16 shots.

In comparison, Bethany Lutheran shot at a rate of 45 percent but struggled from three-point range and at the free throw line. Illinois Wesleyan held advantages in various statistical categories including rebounding, assists, and bench scoring.

The game began with Wilmsen sinking a three-pointer for Illinois Wesleyan, followed by an immediate response from Bethany Lutheran to tie the score early on. However, Illinois Wesleyan quickly gained momentum with a significant run initiated by freshman Josh Fridman’s assist to senior Marko Anderson. The Titans maintained control throughout the match and expanded their lead significantly before securing their win.

Illinois Wesleyan is set to face either St. John's University (Minn.) or the University of Chicago in the next round on Saturday night at the Ratner Athletic Center.