UPDATED: Illinois Wesleyan to play Dubuque in NCAA tourney 1st round

Posted on March 2, 2015

Coach Ron Rose has led Illinois Wesleyan into the NCAA Division III Tournament for six consecutive seasons. (WJBC file photo)

By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team will play the University of Dubuque at 5 p.m. Friday in the first round of the 62-team 2015 NCAA Division III basketball championships in Stevens Point, Wis.

Titans coach Ron Rose said getting that invitation never gets old. 

"We've been very fortunate to have had this opportunity for the sixth straight time, but it's new to this team," Rose said. "It's incredibly exciting. We know we've just extended our season for another week."

Rose said he still feels the Titans are coming in strong despite losing in the CCIW title game on Saturday.

"It was a heartbreaking loss against Augustana, but it was a championship caliber effort and game," Rose said "If we are willing to play that hard and with that much focus, good things typically happen."

The Pointers (21-5) will host Concordia Wis. (19-9) with the winners to meet Saturday night.

Earning an at-large bid into the tourney, Ron Rose's Titans (19-8) are making their sixth straight and 24th overall NCAA tournament appearance in the 32 years of NCAA affiliation and have a 53-23 record in tournament play, including a national championship in 1997, third place finishes in 1996, 2001 and 2006 and semifinal appearances in 2012 and 2014.

The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin earned three tournament bids for the fourth consecutive season. Conference tournament champion Augustana received a first-round bye, while Elmhurst will play at St. Norbert on Friday. 

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