GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE (L-R): Tim McCrary and Spencer Schultze combined for 34 points and 17 rebounds in Saturday's win.

Wheaton, Ill. - The forward duo of Tim McCrary and Spencer Schultze carried the scoring load while the Wheaton College men's basketball team also locked down defensively to beat Illinois Wesleyan University 60-53 on Saturday.

The No. 22-ranked Thunder improve to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in the CCIW. The No. 21-ranked Titans now have an identical 15-4, 6-2 mark.

Both sides slugged it out in the first half, with Wheaton up 27-23 at halftime. After Schultze scored the first three points of the second half, Illinois Wesleyan found its offensive rhythm and ripped off an 11-0 run to take a 34-30 lead.

McCrary responded by scoring six of the team's next eight points to retake the lead 38-36. The Thunder advantage continued to build to 55-47 with three minutes left on a Jeremy Pflederer layup. The Titans kept things close by pulling within four points with 22 seconds remaining in regulation. But McCrary hit five free throws the rest of the way to put the game out of reach.

Wheaton's team defense proved to be the difference maker, holding IWU to its lowest point total and lowest overall shooting percentage (37.9 percent) of the season.

McCrary put up big numbers in the second half, scoring 15 of his 21 points with four blocked shots. His swat of Eliud Gonzalez's shot in the lane with 13 seconds left helped secure the final margin. The senior All-American also finished with 12 rebounds, five blocks and four steals.

Schultze was also instrumental in the post, hitting 6 of 9 shots for 13 points and five rebounds.

Wheaton shot 44 percent overall from the field (22 of 50), 17 percent from three-point range (1 of 6) and 68 percent on free throws (15 of 22).

Illinois Wesleyan shot 38 percent from the field (22 of 58), 15 percent from beyond the arc (2 of 13) and 50 percent from the line (7 of 14). Kevin Reed hit 7 of 10 shots to finish with 15 points. Jordan Zimmer added 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Titans won the rebounding battle 39-33, including 13 offensive boards. Wheaton took the turnover margin 17-14.

The Thunder head to Millikin University for its next game at 7:30 PM on Tuesday.

PHOTO GALLERY, COURTESY OF THUNDERPHOTOS.COM