BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team picked up its second consecutive home win in conference play with a 69-63 victory against Augustana on Wednesday night in Wheaton's King Arena. Wheaton is now 10-4 on the season, with a 2-1 record in league play. Augustana is 10-4 this season with a 2-1 record in CCIW action. The Thunder will travel to North Park (8-6/2-1 CCIW) on Saturday night for 7:30 PM tipoff against the Vikings. Saturday's game will be broadcast on WETN radio, and online at www.wetn.org.

Wheaton led 35-26 at halftime of tonight's contest. Augustana continually cut into Wheaton's lead throughout the half, getting as close as a two-point deficit on five different occasions. However, the Vikings were never able to tie the contest or take the lead in the closing half.

Wheaton led 54-52 with 5:22 remaining in the game when Wheaton senior Ben Panner made a three-pointer to extend Wheaton's lead to 57-52 and following a missed field goal attempt on Augustana's next possession, Panner made another three-pointer to extend the hosts' lead to 60-52. Augustana made a field goal on their next trip down the court and the Vikings also made a pair of free throws to cut Wheaton's lead to 60-56, however, Panner returned to Wheaton's basket with his third consecutive three-pointer to extend his team's lead to 63-56 with 3:00 left in the game. On Wheaton's next possession, Jake Carwell grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back basket to extend Wheaton's advantage to 65-56, virtually securing the win for Wheaton.

Tim McCrary led the Thunder with his fourth “double-double” of the year, scoring 22 points, with 12 rebounds. McCrary shot 10-of-15 from the field, with four assists, two blocked shots and two steals. Panner scored 17 points on the night, with 15 points coming in the second half. The senior shot 3-for-6 from three-point range with all three trifectas coming in the key stretch late in the second half. Sophomore Spencer Schultze played well of the bench with 10 points and six rebounds, including four offensive boards. Carwell scored eight points and Andrew Jahns scored seven points.

Kyle Nelson led Augustana with 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field. Nelson was the lone Viking to score in double digits, as Brian DeSimone scored nine points for the guests.

Wheaton shot 54.7% (29-53) from the field, with 38.5% (5-13) from three-point range and 66.7% (6-9) at the free throw line. Augustana posted a 50% (23-46) field goal percentage, with 33.3% (2-6) from behind the three-point arc and 62.5% (15-24) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the Vikings 28-26, as each team collected 10 offensive boards.