BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The No. 5-ranked Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team shook off a sluggish start to claim an 80-66 win over Carthage on "Senior Night" Saturday (Feb. 15) at the Shirk Center.

The Titans improved to 20-3 and 10-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, moving into first place by one-half game over Wheaton, who lost Saturday night. The Red Men slipped to 15-9 overall and are 8-5 in conference play.

The Titans are 20-game winners for the fifth year in a row, for the 24th time in school history and the 23rd time in the last 49 seasons.

The game was tied at 18-18 with 7:19 to play in the first half before the Titans took the lead for the rest of the game on a layup by senior Brady Zimmer with 6:47 before halftime. IWU led by a 33-25 score at the break.

Carthage rallied to get within five by scoring the first three points of the second half but got no closer. IWU built up a lead of as much as 21 points at 62-41 with 8:43 to play in the game as the Titans shot an efficient .667 from the field in the second period (12 of 18).

Carthage outrebounded Illinois Wesleyan by a 32-30 margin and the Titans committed 15 turnovers compared to eight for Carthage. The game saw 54 fouls (30 on the Red Men and 24 on IWU).

Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .575 (23 of 40)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .526 (10 of 19)
Free Throw Percentage - .706 (24 of 34)
Junior Dylan Overstreet (18 points)
Senior Victor Davis (16 points, 8 rebounds)
Junior Pat Sodemann (11 points)

Carthage Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .404 (23 of 57)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .250 (4 of 16)
Free Throw Percentage - .516 (16 of 31)
Malcom Kellyl (25 points)
Reese Herth (15 points)
Donte Logan (13 points)

Who's Next?
IWU plays at home again at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 19) against North Park in the make-up of the game that was cancelled by snowy conditions two weekends ago. IWU will wrap up its regular season at Wheaton on Saturday, Feb. 22.