NAPERVILLE — League play continued across the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) with several teams producing notable results during the previous week. The stretch featured a mix of close league contests, high-scoring nonconference performances and continued positioning within the conference standings as teams moved deeper into December schedules.
 
This week’s notebook highlights offensive efficiency from multiple programs, sustained defensive consistency from several league leaders and individual performances that shaped recent outcomes. With conference and nonconference matchups ahead, teams will look to build momentum as the CCIW schedule progresses.
 
Vuckovic’s Efficient Night Fuels North Park Win, National Honors
North Park junior guard Mike Vuckovic was named the CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week and landed a spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week following a 26-point performance in the Vikings’ 95-84 conference victory over North Central on Saturday.
 
Vuckovic led all scorers as North Park erased a double-digit second-half deficit to earn the win and move into first place in the CCIW standings. The effort marked his third 20-point game of the season.
 
The junior from Hanover Park, Ill. connected on 9-of-14 attempts from the field while setting a career high with five 3-pointers on seven attempts from beyond the arc. Vuckovic logged 37 minutes and is the first player to earn the weekly honor from the league office multiple times in 2025-26.
 
The CCIW on the National Stage
The CCIW continues to be well represented in the national statistical rankings, with multiple teams placing among the NCAA Division III leaders across several key categories. Illinois Wesleyan anchors the league’s defensive profile, ranking first nationally in blocked shots per game (7.6) while also placing sixth in field-goal percentage defense (36.1 percent).

Offensively, North Park has established itself among the nation’s most productive units, ranking third in assists per game (21.6) and 13th in scoring offense (91.3 points per game), while also placing 20th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.55) ... Additional national marks include Wheaton, which ranks eighth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.405) and 17th in overall field-goal percentage (.498), and Millikin, which sits 34th nationally in rebounding margin (+7.9).
 
On an individual level, several CCIW student-athletes appear prominently in national leaderboards. Carthage’s Ryan Johnson ranks 11th nationally in rebounds per game (11.4) and is tied for eighth in total double-double performances with six ... Illinois Wesleyan’s Noah Cleveland follows closely, ranking 12th nationally in rebounding (11.3 per game) while also placing 15th in blocked shots per game (2.44)

North Park’s Kolden Vanlandingham is among the nation’s top facilitators, ranking eighth nationally in assists per game (6.1) ... Carroll’s Michael McNabb ranks 31st nationally in scoring (22.4 points per game), while Wheaton’s Carson Grier continues to rank among Division III’s most efficient shooters, placing 11th nationally in field-goal percentage (65.3 percent).

Scoring Surge Highlights Bluejays’ Early Consistency
Elmhurst has won back-to-back games to improve to 7-2 overall, earning both a narrow conference win and a record-setting non-conference performance. The Bluejays edged Illinois Wesleyan last Saturday, 67-66, before producing the highest-scoring game in program history with a 137-100 win over Greenville on Wednesday.
 
The offensive output against Greenville included a 62.8 percent shooting effort from the field. The Bluejays currently rank second in the CCIW in both field-goal percentage (.476) and three-point percentage (.374), while sitting among the league leaders in scoring offense and scoring margin.
 
Dominic Trelenberg led the scoring effort with 30 points against Greenville, marking his second 30-point performance of the season. Jack Cherry provided the decisive basket against Illinois Wesleyan with a 3-pointer in the final minute, while Vinnie Adjahoungbeta added 21 points and nine rebounds in Wednesday’s win.
 
Elmhurst will travel to Coe on Friday with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
Fast Pace Fuels North Park’s Statement Week
North Park’s win streak is three, moving to 7-2 overall and remaining tied for the conference lead at 2-1. The Vikings picked up a 95-84 conference win over North Central last Saturday before delivering a 138-117 non-conference victory over Greenville on Monday.
 
The Greenville contest featured a program-record 138 points and a record 39 assists. The Vikings lead the CCIW in scoring offense (91.3 ppg) and assists.
 
Mike Vuckovic earned CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week and D3hoops.com National Team of the Week honors after scoring 26 points against North Central. Freshman Marquis Vance added a career-high 32 points against Greenville, while Kolden Vanlandingham continues to lead the league in assists (6.11 per game) and steals (2.33 per game).
 
North Park will host Cornell on Thursday at 4 p.m.
 
Efficiency and Balance Anchor Big Blue Victory
Millikin earned an 85-77 league win over Augustana on Saturday, improving to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in CCIW play.
 
Millikin shot 51.8 percent from the field and 48.0 percent from 3-point range against Augustana. The Big Blue lead the CCIW in rebounding margin (+7.9) and rank among the top three teams in scoring margin (+6.9) and scoring defense (65.3).
 
Three Millikin players surpassed the 20-point mark in Saturday’s win, led by Nate Straughter’s 24 points, including six 3-pointers. Ian Winkler added 22 points and five assists, while Lane Thomann finished with 21 points and seven rebounds and remains among the league leaders in both scoring (19.4 per game) and rebounding (7.9 per game).
 
Millikin will return to the court on Friday in Decatur against Greenville at 7 p.m.
 
Defensive Profile Holds Steady in Titans’ Narrow Setback
Illinois Wesleyan dropped a 67-66 decision at Elmhurst last Saturday. The Titans held a late lead before a last-minute basket swung the outcome, moving IWU to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in league play.
 
Despite the result, Illinois Wesleyan continues to lead the CCIW in several key defensive categories, including scoring defense (65.2), rebounding offense (42.3) and blocked shots (7.5). The Titans also rank first in scoring margin (+9.2) and remain among the league’s most efficient defensive units.
 
Noah Cleveland posted 24 points and eight rebounds in the loss and leads the conference in blocked shots (2.44 per game) while ranking near the top in rebounding (11.3 per game). Mason Funk added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, as IWU controlled the glass for much of the contest.
 
Illinois Wesleyan will step outside conference play on Thursday, traveling to St. Louis to face No. 4 WashU at 4 p.m.
 
Shooting Efficiency Remains Wheaton’s Season-Long Constant
Wheaton fell 77-59 on the road at Carthage on Saturday. The Thunder are 6-4 overall record and a 1-2 mark in conference play.
 
The Thunder continue to lead the CCIW in field-goal percentage (.498) and three-point percentage (.405), while ranking second in scoring offense (83.0).
 
Soren Richardson led Wheaton with 19 points in the contest and ranks second in the league in scoring average (18.2). Carson Grier added 14 points and remains the conference leader in field-goal percentage (.653).
 
Wheaton will resume play on Wednesday, Dec. 31, traveling to Wisconsin Lutheran for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup.
 
Activity on Defense Continues to Define Augie
Augustana fell 85-77 to Millikin last Saturday, moving to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in CCIW play.
 
Defensively, Augustana continues to generate activity, leading the CCIW in steals per game (10.1) while ranking among the top teams in free-throw percentage (.731).
 
Cam Atkinson recorded a career-high 23 points against Millikin, while Marieon Anderson and Andre Klaver also reached double figures. Anderson ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.641), and Jake Willems continues to sit near the top of the league in steals (2.25 per game).
 
Augustana will travel to the JustAGame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., on Friday to meet 11th-ranked Calvin.
 
Late Push Highlights Carroll’s Road Effort
Carroll dropped a 64-60 non-conference decision at Wisconsin-Whitewater last Saturday, falling to 4-5 overall. The Pioneers trailed at halftime before trimming the deficit to four points in the final moments.
 
The Pioneers scored 34 points in the paint and won the fast-break battle against the Warhawks. Carroll ranks second in the CCIW in free-throw percentage (.733).
 
Lamar Smith led the effort with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds on efficient shooting. Michael McNabb added 13 points and remains the league’s leading scorer (22.4 per game), while Jacob Naber converted all seven of his free-throw attempts.
 
Carroll will return home on Saturday, hosting Marian at 2 p.m.
 
Second-Half Separation Lifts Firebirds
Carthage earned a 77-59 conference win over Wheaton last Saturday, improving to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in league play. 
 
Carthage shot 48.4 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from three-point range, while holding Wheaton to just over 21 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Firebirds rank among the league leaders in scoring margin (+7.0), rebounding margin (+3.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42).
 
AJ Johnson led the Firebirds with 22 points, while Ryan Johnson posted 17 points and 11 rebounds to record another double-double. Ryan Johnson continues to lead the CCIW in rebounding (11.3 per game) and has recorded the most double-doubles in the conference with six.
 
Carthage will host Olivet on Friday at Tarble Arena with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Defensive Identity Supports North Central’s Midweek Response
North Central split its last two games, falling 95-84 to North Park last Saturday before earning a 65-58 non-conference win over Hope College on Wednesday. The Cardinals stand at 3-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
North Central sits second in the CCIW in scoring defense (65.2) and leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.760). The Cardinals posted a season-best shooting performance against Hope, connecting at a 46.9 percent clip.
 
Alejandro Diaz led all scorers with 16 points against Hope and ranks among the league leaders in assists (5.00 per game) and free-throw percentage (.848). Sean Molloy paced North Central in the North Park game, as multiple Cardinals reached double figures.
 
North Central will travel to Rhodes in Memphis on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.