The score was tied 15-15 with 12:00 left in the first half when the most important moments of the game occurred for the Thunder. Wheaton out-scored the Cardinals 15-2 over the next 6:10 to take a 30-17 lead with 5:50 to play in the opening period. After Wheaton opened up the lead with the critical 15-2 run the hosts were never able to get back into the contest, as the Thunder led 43-33 at halftime. Wheaton led by as many as 25 points in the second half.
All five Thunder starters scored in double digits tonight, including a “double-double” by senior forward Will Landry with 10 points and 11 rebounds in addition to four assists. All-American center Joel Kolmodin led all scorers with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Jon Nielson scored 19 points on 6-8 shooting from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range with five assists and four steals. Sophomore Tony Bollier scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting from the field, including a 3-3 effort from three-point range, along with three assists. Junior Martin Trimiew scored 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field and six rebounds.
Anthony Simmons led North Central with 15 points and Josh Wesley added 11 points for the hosts. Kevin Lambert came off the bench to score 10 points on 4-6 shooting from the field and reserve Brandon Hilton added eight points.
Wheaton shot 46.2% (30-65) from the field, with 47.6% (10-21) from three-point range and 75% (15-20) from the free throw line. North Central shot a 42.4% (25-59) field goal percentage, with a 37.5% (6-16) effort from three-point range and 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line. Wheaton out-rebounded North Central 47-29, with a 16-6 edge on the offensive glass that helped the Thunder out-score the Cardinals 12-2 in second-chance points.
Wheaton vs North Central College 2/11/04 7:30 pm at Naperville, Ill. At Naperville, Ill. WHEATON 85, NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE 66 WHEATON (18-3, 7-3) Kolmodin, Joel 7-19 6-6 22; Nielson, Jon 6-8 3-4 19; Bollier, Tony 5-8 1-1 14; Trimiew, Martin 4-6 5-7 13; Landry, Will 5-11 0-2 10; Steven, Jonathan 1-4 0-0 3; Fortosis, Jim 1-5 0-0 2; Trusty, Jeremiah 1-1 0-0 2; Lettinga, Andrew 0-2 0-0 0; Overlien, Aaron 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-65 15-20 85. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE (11-10, 4-7) Simmons, Anthony 5-9 3-4 15; Wesley, Josh 5-8 1-2 11; Lambert, Kevin 4-6 1-1 10; Hilton, Brandon 3-5 1-3 8; Williams, Monte 2-8 2-3 6; Vicario, Ray 1-4 2-2 4; Teising, Adam 2-4 0-0 4; Johnson, David 1-2 0-0 3; Stallings, Jawaan 1-4 0-0 3; Krumtinger, Adam 1-4 0-0 2; Flanigan, Patrick 0-3 0-0 0; Wilson, Mike 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 10-15 66. Wheaton....................... 43 42 - 85 North Central College......... 33 33 - 66 3-point goals-Wheaton 10-21 (Nielson, Jon 4-6; Bollier, Tony 3-3; Kolmodin, Joel 2-6; Steven, Jonathan 1-2; Lettinga, Andrew 0-2; Overlien, Aaron 0-1; Landry, Will 0-1), North Central College 6-16 (Simmons, Anthony 2-4; Hilton, Brandon 1-1; Johnson, David 1-2; Stallings, Jawaan 1-3; Lambert, Kevin 1-3; Wilson, Mike 0-1; Teising, Adam 0-1; Vicario, Ray 0-1). Fouled out--Wheaton-Trimiew, Martin, North Central College-None. Rebounds-Wheaton 47 (Landry, Will 11), North Central College 29 (Williams, Monte 8). Assists-Wheaton 19 (Nielson, Jon 5), North Central College 12 (Stallings, Jawaan 3). Total fouls-Wheaton 17, North Central College 19. A-567