NAPERVILLE — Results across the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s basketball schedule last week reinforced the current shape of the standings, with the teams at the top continuing to collect wins and the chase group working to stay within range. 
 
Titan Up: Illinois Wesleyan’s Dynamic Duo Dazzles
No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan continued to produce results aligned with the top of the standings, pairing interior production with high-volume perimeter scoring.
 
Last Saturday, the Titans defeated North Central 93-64 at the Shirk Center. Noah Cleveland led the Titans with 29 points and 12 rebounds and was later named CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday. Cleveland’s rebounding profile continues to stand out nationally, entering the week fifth in Division III in rebounds per game (11.8) and third in total double-doubles (14).
 
IWU followed on Wednesday with an 82-71 win over Wheaton to complete a regular-season series sweep. Casen Lawrence scored 24 points and went 8-for-12 from three-point range. The eight made threes are tied for the second-most in program history, and the Titans finished with 17 three-pointers as a team. Cleveland added 12 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, finishing one assist short of a triple-double.
 
Johnson & Johnson: Carthage’s Prescription for Winning
Carthage remained tied for first place in the conference at 9-3 following a week that included a road win and a late finish at home.
 
On Saturday, Carthage won 85-70 at North Park. AJ Johnson posted a season-high 25 points, including six three-pointers. Ryan Johnson recorded a double-double, continuing a season-long rebounding trend that places him second in the CCIW at 9.8 rebounds per game and among the national top 30 in total rebounds.
 
On Wednesday at Tarble Arena, North Central tied the game in the final seconds before Ryan Johnson converted a put-back layup at the buzzer to give Carthage a 67-65 win. Johnson’s 10 double-doubles have remained a steady baseline for the Firebirds, who also rank 45th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 67.7 points per game.
 
Bluejays Fly High: Elmhurst’s Road Warrior Mentality
Elmhurst extended its winning streak to five games and continued to add wins away from home, moving to 14-6 overall and 7-4 in conference play. Elmhurst won 80-72 at Millikin last Saturday. Dominic Trelenberg made seven three-pointers and finished with a career-high 25 points. Trelenberg also remains a high-minutes contributor, leading the CCIW and ranking 80th nationally in minutes per game (34:06).
 
Elmhurst completed a season sweep of Augustana on Wednesday with an 81-62 road win in Rock Island. Vinnie Adjahoungbeta recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double in three games. Nationally, Elmhurst’s efficiency at the line has remained a differentiator, as the Bluejays entered the week 36th in Division III in free throw percentage (75.5).
 
Deep-Sea Fishing: Vikings Net Record Haul from the Perimeter
North Park’s offensive output continued to track with a perimeter-heavy approach, producing a program-level mark during its midweek result.
 
After falling to Carthage on Saturday, North Park responded Wednesday with a 99-63 win over Millikin, tying a 36-year-old program record with 17 made three-pointers. Mike Vuckovic led the performance with 29 points and went 7-for-9 from three-point range. Vuckovic entered the week third in the CCIW in scoring at 19.8 points per game.
 
North Park’s season-long profile continues to include high offensive volume, with the Vikings ranked 23rd nationally in scoring offense (86.2 ppg) and leading the CCIW in assists per game (17.9). Kolden Vanlandingham remains a central part of that structure, with his production including a triple-double earlier this season. Vanlandingham also ranks 26th nationally in total assists (103).
 
Pioneer Spirit: Carroll Erases the Deficit
Carroll produced one of the week’s larger in-game swings last Saturday, rallying from a first-half deficit to earn a conference win.
 
At Van Male Fieldhouse, Carroll trailed Wheaton by as many as 14 points in the first half before closing the game with a 90-84 victory. Michael McNabb scored 22 points and went 8-for-8 at the free throw line in late-game possessions. McNabb remains the CCIW scoring leader at 21.5 points per game, which ranks 35th nationally.
 
Lamar Smith added 19 points and continues to lead the conference in field goal percentage (61.5%). Defensively, Dennis Estepp has produced one of the league’s top single-game steals totals this season, tied for the conference high at six. The win allowed Carroll to split its season series with Wheaton and stay in range of the tournament field.
 
National Notice: The CCIW’s Statistical Heavyweights
Several CCIW programs and individuals remain present across national statistical categories.
 
Illinois Wesleyan enters the week leading Division III in team blocks per game (6.8). Mason Funk ranks 13th nationally in total blocks (47), anchoring that team metric. In ball security, Jackson Niego ranks ninth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.26), while Devin Martin is 56th nationally in the same category.
 
Carthage has also remained among the national leaders in possession-based discipline, ranking 14th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.53) and 14th in fewest turnovers per game (9.8). From a scoring standpoint, Wheaton’s Soren Richardson sits second in the CCIW scoring race at 20.8 points per game and ranks 45th nationally.
 
The Final Stretch: Madness is Coming Early
With the regular season entering its final weeks, seeding and qualification remain the primary framework for the remainder of the schedule. The top six teams will qualify for the conference tournament beginning Feb. 24, with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye. Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage currently occupy the top two positions, with Elmhurst and Wheaton remaining within range. 
 
This Saturday features a full conference slate, including Elmhurst traveling to Bloomington to face Illinois Wesleyan. Other games include North Central at Wheaton, Millikin at Carthage and Augustana at Carroll. 
 
North Park returns from its bye on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with a road game at Augustana.