The visiting Titans led Wheaton 34-32 with 3:20 to play in the first half, but a layup followed by a three-pointer from All-American Joel Kolmodin sparked an 11-2 Thunder run to close the first half. Wheaton held a 43-36 lead at halftime when Thunder guard Jon Nielson drained a basket to close the half. The hosts scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 53-38 lead and from that point the Thunder were in control of the contest. Wheaton’s biggest lead of the game was a 27-point bulge at 69-42 with 12:11 to play in the game.
The Thunder offense was balanced tonight with five players scoring in double digits. Wheaton shot 59.3% (16-27) from the field in the first half and 53.8% (14-26) in the second half with a 56.6% (30-53) field goal percentage in the game. The hosts hit 60% (9-15) of their three-point attempts and shot 67.9% (19-28) from the free throw line. The Thunder defense tightened up after the Titans shot 50% (15-30) from the field in the first half, Illinois Wesleyan shot just 27.8% (10-36) in the second half for a 37.9% (25-66) field goal percentage in the game. The Titans shot 31.3% (5-16) from three-point range with a 60% (9-15) effort from the free throw line. Illinois Wesleyan out-rebounded Wheaton 41-36 with an 18-8 edge on the offensive glass.
Kolmodin led the Thunder with 26 points on 9-14 shooting from the field with two three-pointers and 11 rebounds. Junior Jonathan Steven scored 16 points and Nielson added 15 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, including 3-4 with from three-point range with eight assists. Sophomore Tony Bollier had a strong game with 10 points with four assists and junior Martin Trimiew scored 10 points with six assists.
Guard Jim Lehan led Illinois Wesleyan with 16 points, while fellow guards Adam Dauksas and Jason Fisher each scored 11 points as Dauksas added five assists. Zach Freeman and Keelan Amelianovich each scored eight points as Freeman and Dauksas led the Titans with seven rebounds apiece.