BOXSCORE

Springfield, Ohio – The Wheaton men's basketball team emerged as champions of Wittenberg University's Charles B. Zimmerman Classic with a 62-46 win against Taylor University in the tournament's championship game on Tuesday night. Wheaton now 10-0 on the season, is ranked second in the most recent D3hoops.com Top-25. Taylor falls to 7-10 overall.

Taylor jumped out to an early 8-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Wheaton countered with a 14-2 scoring surge to take an 18-10 lead with 9:10 remaining in the first half. In fact, Wheaton out-scored Taylor 27-9 in the final 15 minutes of the opening half as the Thunder held a 31-17 lead at halftime. Wheaton's largest lead was a 24-point bulge at 58-34 with 4:20 remaining in the game.

Senior All-American Kent Raymond, the tournament's MVP, led Wheaton with 23 points and three assists. Ben Panner, an all-tournament selection, contributed 13 points for the Thunder. Freshman Tim McCrary (PICTURED RIGHT) collected a career-high 14 rebounds, with eight points. Jake Carwell contributed 10 points, with five rebounds and three assists.

Jacob Bream led Taylor with 14 points and five rebounds. Daniel Cox scored 10 points, with Jake Burkholder contributing five points with four rebounds.

Wheaton shot 44.2% (23-52) from the field, with 18.2% (2-11) from three-point range and 82.4% (14-17) at the free throw line. The Trojans posted a 40% (18-45) effort from the floor, with an 0-for-10 night from three-point range and 76.9% (10-13) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded Taylor 39-21, with a 12-2 advantage on the offensive glass.

Wheaton will resume action on Saturday afternoon with a 1 PM tipoff at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Saturday's game will be broadcast on WETN radio at 88.1 FM in the Wheaton area and on the internet at www.wetn.org.