BOXSCORE
Elmhurst, Ill. – The Wheaton men's basketball team held on for a dramatic 68-67 victory at Elmhurst College on Saturday night. The Thunder improve to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the CCIW, while Elmhurst is 7-10 on the year and 2-4 in the CCIW. Wheaton will return home for an 8 PM tipoff at home against Millikin on Wednesday night.
Wheaton jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first four minutes of the game. The Thunder continued its strong play in the opening portion of the first half, leading 22-6 with 10 minutes remaining before the halftime intermission. The Bluejays responded with a 17-4 run to cut Wheaton's lead to 26-23 with 4:45 left in the first half. The hosts continued to chip away at the Thunder lead earning a 28-27 lead by converting a basket and a free throw with 3:34 left before halftime. Elmhurst led 35-31 at the halftime intermission.
The two teams battled through a tightly contested second half before consecutive baskets by Jeremy Pflederer, including a three-pointer, gave Wheaton a 57-50 lead with 9:00 remaining in regulation. Elmhurst battled back to tie the game at 64-64 with two minutes left in regulation. A Tyler Peters basket with 1:35 left gave the guests a 66-64 lead. Elmhurst responded with a jumper with 1:02 left to tie the game at 66-66. An Elmhurst free throw with 20-seconds left in regulation gave the hosts a 67-66 lead. On the ensuing possession, Thunder senior Andrew Jahns drained a field goal from about 15-feet away from the basket to give Wheaton a 68-67 edge with just under eight-seconds left in regulation. The Wheaton defense stopped two Elmhurst shot attempts in the hosts' final possession to earn the victory.
Jahns led Wheaton with 18 points, as he shot 8-for-13 from the field. Jon DeMoss scored 14 points, with three assists. Pflederer and Tim McCrary each scored 10 points. McCrary added five rebounds and four assists. Peters added seven points, with three assists.
Zack Boyd led Elmhurst with 18 points and seven rebounds, while James Robertson added 17 points for the hosts.
The Thunder shot 52.7% (29-55) from the floor, with 46.2% (6-13) from three-point range and 44.4% (4-9) at the free throw line. Elmhurst had a 45.3% (24-53) field goal percentage, with 57.1% (8-14) from behind the three-point arc and 57.9% (11-19) at the charity stripe. Elmhurst out-rebounded the Thunder 32-29, with an 11-8 edge on the offensive glass.
