Defiance, Ohio – The Wheaton men's basketball team dropped a 67-65 decision at Defiance College in the closing seconds on Tuesday night. Wheaton is now 1-1 on the season, while Defiance improves to 2-0. The Thunder will host the Lee Pfund Classic this weekend as Wheaton entertains Olivet College on Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the first night of action.
 
Defiance led the Thunder 34-31 at halftime and the hosts held a 45-41 advantage with 15:12 remaining in regulation. A basket by Thunder senior Joel Smith ignited an 8-0 run for Wheaton that gave the guests a 49-45 lead with 13:30 remaining in regulation. Wheaton's largest lead of the second half was a six-point bulge at 59-53 with 7:00 remaining regulation. Defiance utilized an 8-2 run to tie the game at 61-61 with 2:15 left in regulation.

Wheaton senior Brayden Teuscher drained a pair of free throws to give Wheaton a 63-61 advantage with 2:01 left in regulation. On the hosts' next trip down the floor, Defiance's Travis Schomaeker drained a three-point basket to give his team a 64-63 lead with 1:41 remaining. Bernard Edwards of Defiance made one of two free throw attempts with 52-seconds remaining in the game to give the hosts a 65-63 lead. Brayden Teuscher countered on Wheaton's next trip down the court with a layup that tied the game at 65-65 with 29-seconds remaining in the game. Defiance used much of the remaining clock on its next trip down the court and Edwards made a basket to give the hosts a 67-65 lead with three-seconds remaining. Wheaton in-bounded the ball and Brayden Teuscher got a three-point attempt off that hit off the rim as time expired for the 67-65 Defiance victory.

Michael Berg led the Thunder with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting on the evening. The junior also led the Thunder with six rebounds. Brayden Teuscher scored 17 points for the guests and Caleb DeMoss registered 10 points with seven assists. Junior Luis Miller scored seven points, Joel Smith scored five points with five rebounds and Murad Dillard added five points.

Wheaton shot 45.1% (23-for-51) from the field, including 42.1% (8-of-19) from three-point range and the Thunder had an 84.6% (11-of-13) effort at the free throw line. Defiance shot 48.1% (25-for-52) from the floor, with 31.6% (6-of-19) from three-point range and 73.3% (11-of-15) at the charity stripe. Defiance out-rebounded the Thunder 35-21, with an 11-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Edwards led Defiance with 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field. Travis Schomaeker contributed 16 points for the hosts and Wade Wooley led all players with 10 rebounds.