PICTURED ABOVE: Trevor Gunter scored a career-high 16 points to go with eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals in Wheaton's 93-61 win over Millikin.

Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's basketball team opened Saturday night's game on a 14-0 run and never looked back en route to a 93-61 rout of the Millikin Big Blue at King Arena. With the win, Wheaton improves to 7-8 on the season and 3-3 in the CCIW. Millikin falls to 3-12 overall and 1-5 in conference action. Wheaton's 93 points are the most points scored in a regulation game since a 94-67 win over Olivet College on November 21, 2014. Wheaton's 32 point margin of victory is its largest since a 103-66 win at North Park on February 12, 2014.

Wheaton shot a red-hot 69.4% (34-49) from the field including a 57.1% (8-14) clip from the three-point line. The Thunder shot 77.3% (17-22) from the free throw line. Millkin was held to 37.7% (23-61) from the field and 32.1% (9-28) from the three-point line. The Big Blue made six-of-nine free throw attempts.

Wheaton set the tone for Saturday night's balanced effort with a 14-0 run to start the game that saw five different players reach the scoring column in the first five minutes of the game. Wheaton's first half lead reached 16 points on three separate occasions, the third occasion giving Wheaton a 36-20 lead with 3:50 left in the first half. Millikin answered with eight-straight points to get within 36-28 but Aston Francis stopped the run with a three-pointer to put Wheaton ahead 39-29 ahead at halftime.

The second half started similar to the first half, with the Thunder opening on a 7-0 run to take a 47-30 lead. Wheaton would leave no doubt in the second half, leading by as many 34 points and outscoring the Big Blue 24-6 in the paint en route to the 93-61 victory.

Aston Francis scored 20 of his game-high 32 points in the second half. The sophomore guard connected on five three-pointers for the fourth time this season and the third time in Wheaton's last four games. Francis tallied his third 30-point performance of the year in tonight's win. Trevor Gunter posted a career-high 16 points to go with eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Reagan Jones had 11 points and Luke Peters finished with nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

Wheaton will next be in action on Wednesday night, January 18, when the Thunder host North Central at 7 PM in King Arena.