BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team clinched at least a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship with a 79-71 win over No. 13 Wheaton College Saturday night, Feb. 12. IWU now sits at 19-4 overall and 12-2 in the CCIW after the Senior Day win.

The Titans took down the Thunder (18-5, 10-4 CCIW) behind a career-high 31-point performance by senior Matthew Leritz (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University HS). Leritz finished 12-for-20 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, while also adding eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Fellow senior Cory Noe (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet-Seymour) went for 17 points, including four triples. Junior Cody Mitchell (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East) added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds. 

The Green and White used a strong offensive performance to secure the victory. IWU finished 29-for-59 from the floor (49.2 percent) and 9-for-17 from beyond the arc (52.9 percent). The Titans also finished the day 12-for-15 from the free throw line, while the Thunder cashed in on 17-of-20 charity stripe attempts. Wheaton compiled a 41.8 field goal percentage and took 30 three-point attempts, making eight. 

IWU held a 34-26 edge in points in the paint and a 14-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Wheaton compiled leads in second chance points (9-4) and bench points (17-9), while both teams scored eight points apiece in transition.

The Titans trailed by three, 35-32, entering the second half but leaned on their defense to get things rolling in the right direction. With Wheaton only managing points at the free throw line, Leritz took control. He hit a triple on an assist from sophomore Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.-Huntley). He followed with another three-point play, this time a layup and free throw to give IWU a 48-39 advantage with 13:23 to go. 

Wheaton had no answer for Illinois Wesleyan, as Leritz and senior Peter Lambesis (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-St. Viator) extended the lead to double-digits, 52-41.

The Thunder converted their first field goal of the half with 11:15 to play, but the Titans continued to feed Leritz to maintain their cushion. 

Wheaton pulled within as few as five, but Mitchell kicked to Leritz for a triple to regain an eight-point IWU advantage, 68-60, with 4:46 to go.

Illinois Wesleyan never looked back from there, as Leritz, Mitchell, and Noe hit shots down the stretch to seal the 79-71 victory. 

The Titans wrap up the home portion of the 2021-22 regular season slate Wednesday, Feb. 16, against North Central College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.