PICTURED ABOVE: Ricky Samuelson scored 15 points for the Thunder.

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Thunder men's basketball team closed out its participation in the seventh annual D3hoops.com Classic on Friday night. Hardin-Simmons topped the Thunder 79-63 in the tournament finale at South Point Arena. Wheaton is now 5-6 on the season and Hardin-Simmons improves to 8-4.

Sophomore Aston Francis scored 16 points to lead the Thunder, adding six assists. Junior Ricky Samuelson scored 15 points and freshman Spencer Peterson added 11 points. Kobe Eichelberger registered six points with six rebounds. Luke Peters and Reagan Jones each tallied five points.

Nathaniel Jack led the Cowboys with 17 points and six rebounds. Dashun Dixon registered 16 points, Christian O'Neal scored 13 points and Duane Hopper scored 10 points. Hopper led Hardin-Simmons with a team-high seven rebounds.

Wheaton registered a 41.4% (24-of-58) field goal percentage, including 31.6% (6-of-19) from three-point range. Hardin-Simmons shot 56.6% (30-of-53) from the field, including 34.8% (8-of23) from behind the three-point line. The Thunder shot 60% (9-of-15) at the free throw line and Hardin-Simmons had a 68.8% (11-of-16) effort at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded Hardin-Simmons 34-30 and the Thunder held an 11-4 edge on the offensive glass.

The Thunder will resume conference play when Carroll University visits King Arena at 7:00 p.m. on January 4.