Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois Wesleyan University secured a significant victory in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating Carthage with a final score of 79-60. The win guarantees Illinois Wesleyan an automatic entry into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Key performances from the Titans included Nick Roper, who scored 27 points, and teammates Mason Funk and Karlo Colak, each contributing 12 points. The team achieved a shooting record of 29-for-58 from the field and an impressive 14-for-16 at the foul line. Additionally, Illinois Wesleyan's bench outperformed Carthage's reserves by scoring 23 points compared to Carthage's two.

The Titans established a strong lead early in the game. By the 7:43 mark of the first half, Roper’s jumper had pushed their advantage to a double-digit lead at 24-14. They maintained this momentum throughout, leading by as many as 13 points before heading into halftime with a score of 37-27.

In the second half, Illinois Wesleyan continued to dominate. A layup by Funk with just over six minutes remaining extended their lead to its largest margin at 68-45.

For Carthage, Riley Brooks scored 20 points while AJ Johnson added another 17.

This victory marks Illinois Wesleyan's first championship win under the league’s traditional format since it was expanded from four teams to six teams in recent years. The Titans previously won during an expanded postseason tournament following the 2020-2021 season. They now await their next challenge in the NCAA tournament as they anticipate their postseason destination announcement on Monday.