BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team will play at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis., on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the NCAA Division III tournament first round.
 The Titans, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest region, are 17-8 overall and won their final eight regular season games to earn an at-large berth in the tourney. Ripon, with a record of 20-4, is the No. 4 seed and won the Midwest Conference automatic qualifying bid.
 IWU is in the tourney for the sixth straight season and the 13th time in 16 years of Division III association. The Titans won the national title in 1997 and finished third in 1996, and have been members of the final 16 of the tourney in each of the last six years. IWU has a 25-12 NCAA tourney record.
 Ripon is coached by Bob Gillespie, who has a 327-122 record in his 19th season. The Red Hawks, making their 10th Division III tournament appearance, have a tourney record of 3-11. They are led by seniors Adam Zakos, Bret VanDyken, and Matt Becker. Zakos, a 6-foot guard, averages 18.9 points, VanDyken, a 6-foot-7 forward scores 15.6 and grabs 6.1 rebounds per game, and Becker, a 6-4 forward, scores at a 12.8 clip.
 IWU has played the Red Hawks in three previous NCAA tournament games, winning in 1996 (77-66) and 1986 (63-57) in Bloomington and losing in 1991 (65-63) at Ripon.
 Information about ticket prices will be announced later. The Red Hawks play at the 2,500-seat Storzer Center on campus.
 

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 1998-99 MEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICS

COON SHARES CCIW "MVP" HONOR; BOYDEN AND HUBBARD ON SECOND TEAM

COMPLETE DIVISION III TOURNAMENT BRACKET
 

MIDWEST GAMES THURSDAY
Illinois Wesleyan (No. 5 seed) at Ripon (No. 4)
Washington U. (No. 6) at Wheaton (No. 3)
 

MIDWEST GAMES SATURDAY
Illinois Wesleyan/Ripon winner at Franklin (No. 1 seed)
Washington U./Wheaton winner at Manchester (No. 2)