Cleveland, Ohio - The Thunder men's basketball returned to action after its holiday hiatus with a 60-56 loss to Otterbein University at the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament. Wheaton's sixth-straight loss drops its season record to 3-7 on the year. Otterbein improves to 3-8 with the win. Wheaton will wrap up its conclusion in the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament on Wednesday when the Thunder face Kalamazoo in the tournament consolation at 2:00 p.m. (EST).

Wheaton shot 20-of-61 (32.8%) from the field and made just five of 19 three-point attempts for a 26.3% clip. Wheaton went 11-for-19 (57.9%) from the free throw line. The Cardinals shot 33.3% (18-54) from the field and 28.6% (6-21) from the three point line. Otterbein successfully iced the game away from the free throw line where the Cardinals shot 85.7% (18-21).

The Thunder won the turnover battle by forcing 18 turnovers while only committing seven of its own but the Cardinals handily outrebounded the Thunder 53-33 including an 11-5 edge on the offensive glass.

With points hard to come by in the first half, Otterbein took control of the game early with a six-point run to take an 18-12 lead. Trailing 20-17 with 2:57 left in the first half, consecutive three-pointers by Ricky Samuelson (PICTURED RIGHT) gave Wheaton the lead as part of a 9-0 Thunder run to close the half and take a 26-20 lead at the intermission.

Otterbein opened the second half by scoring six straight points to tie the game but Wheaton retook the lead on a Jonathan Berntsen lay-up. Joel Smith's jumper with 11 minutes to play gave Wheaton its biggest lead of the game at 37-30.

The Cardinals continued to play from behind until a five-point swing pushed Otterbein ahead 45-43 with 6:34 to play. Wheaton cut the lead down to 50-49 with 2:47 to play but would get no closer as Otterbein went seven-for-eight from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to ice the 60-56 victory.

Jonathan Berntsen led Wheaton with 18 points. Ricky Sameulson added 11 points and Michael Berg narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Jake Phillis led the Cardinals with a game-high 20 points.