PICTURED ABOVE: Trevor Gunter scored 14 points against Millikin, including 12 first-half points.

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton men's basketball team (5-1, 1-0 CCIW) opened CCIW play on Saturday night with a 78-68 victory at home against Millikin University (4-2, 0-1 CCIW).

Aston Francis led the Thunder with 31 points, making four three-pointers. The preseason All-American distributed eight assists with five rebounds and two steals. Trevor Gunter scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. Ricky Samuelson added 11 points for the hosts. Junior Luke Peters scored nine points with four rebounds and Jay Spencer collected a team-high eight rebounds.

The Thunder posted a 52.1% (25-of-48) field goal percentage, including 30% (6-of-20) from three-point range. Millikin shot 46.8% (29-of-62) from the field, including a 10% (1-of-10) effort behind the three-point arc. The hosts shot 84.6% (22-of-26) at the free throw line and the Big Blue posted a 56.3% (9-of-16) effort at the charity stripe. Millikin held a 35-29 edge in rebounding, including a 16-6 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Thunder jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the first five minutes of tonight's contest. The Thunder led for the entire opening half, holding an 18-point bulge at halftime in a 46-28 Thunder lead. Francis (PICTURED LEFT) scored 14 points in the first half with seven assists, four rebounds and two steals. Gunter scored 12 points in the first half, with seven points apiece for Ricky Samuelson and Luke Peters.

Wheaton led by 13 points at 54-41 with 14:00 remaining in regulation when Millikin responded with a 12-2 run to cut Wheaton's lead to just 56-63 with 10:50 left in the game. Wheaton responded with an 11-2 run that culminated with a layup by Francis with 7:50 remaining in the game to extend the hosts' lead to 67-55. From that point forward the Big Blue never came closer than an eight-point deficit as Wheaton emerged with a 78-68 victory.

Elijah Henry led Millikin with 22 points and 12 rebounds. DeVante Harrell scored 12 points with six rebounds for the Big Blue and Michael Beaty registered 10 points for the guests.

The Thunder host Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in a key conference matchup.