GAME STATS PHOTO GALLERY

Wheaton, Ill. – The fifth-ranked Thunder men's basketball team earned a 73-62 victory against Wittenberg University on Saturday night in the championship game of the 2013 Lee Pfund Classic. Wheaton (2-0) will travel to Loras College on Tuesday night for a non-conference meeting with the Duhawks.

Thunder senior Tyler Peters was selected as the Will Landry Tournament MVP. He led Wheaton with 20 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds, with 10 assists. Peters collected his first "triple-double" of his career and it is the first by a Wheaton player since Tim McCrary recorded one against Grinnell on Dec. 12, 2009.


Steven Newell led Wittenberg with 14 points and he added three assists. Scott Masin scored 13 points, with 10 rebounds and three assists. Sam Collins grabbed seven rebounds.

Wheaton shot 39% (23-59) from the field in the game, with 29.6% (8-27) from three-point range and 73.1% (19-26) at the free throw line. Wheaton was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the overtime period, including 3-for-3 from three-point range. Wittenberg shot 41.1% (23-56) from the floor, with 33.3% (7-21) from behind the three-point arc and 47.4% (9-19) at the charity stripe.  Wittenberg out-rebounded the Thunder 41-36, including a 12-10 edge on the offensive glass.

Wheaton led the Tigers 23-21 at halftime. The largest lead for either team in the second half was a four-point Wittenberg lead at 46-42 with 4:50 remaining in the second half.  Two baskets by Teuscher allowed Wheaton to tie the game at 47-47 with 3:00 left in regulation. On Wittenberg's next possession the Tigers made a three-pointer, but a free throw followed later by a three-pointer by Peters gave Wheaton a 51-50 lead with 1:32 remaining in regulation.

Wittenberg's Zack Leahy responded with a three-pointer to give the Tigers a 53-51 lead with 1:05 left in the second half. Peter Smith responded with a pair of free throws to tie the game at 53-53 with 48-seconds left in regulation. A steal by Peters on Wittenberg's ensuing possession gave Wheaton the opportunity to take the last shot. Wheaton's three-point attempt in the closing seconds fell off the rim and the offensive rebound and put-back also fell short, to send the game into the overtime.

Wheaton grabbed possession on the opening tipoff and a quick three-pointer by Peters gave Wheaton the momentum. A pair of missed free throws by Wittenberg set up a three-pointer by Teuscher to increase Wheaton's lead to 59-53 with four minutes remaining. A layup by Peters gave Wheaton a 62-53 lead with 2:55 left in the extra session. Caleb DeMoss drained a three-pointer and was 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the final two minutes to help the hosts secure the win and the tournament title.