Waukesha, Wis. – The Wheaton Thunder men's basketball team dropped a 68-52 matchup at Carroll University (12-11, 8-7 CCIW) on Saturday in CCIW action. The Pioneers utilized an impressive 20-1 run late in the second half to pick up the home win. Wheaton is now 12-12 on the year and 8-7 in CCIW play.

Aston Francis led the Thunder with 15 points, making a trio of three-pointers. Ricky Samuelson and Trevor Gunter each scored 11 points. Gunter was 3-for-3 from the field and also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Jake Mlagan added seven points off the Thunder bench.

Wheaton took an early 9-5 lead in the first four minutes of the game. The Thunder led 20-17 with 10:35 remaining before halftime when the hosts responded with 10 unanswered points to over a span of 4:30 to take a 27-20 lead with six minutes left in the opening half. Wheaton closed the half with its own 10-0 run to lead 30-27 at the halftime intermission.

Carroll out-scored Wheaton 9-2 over the first three minutes of the second half to take a 38-23 lead with 17:00 left in regulation. The Pioneers never trailed after the opening run in the second half. Wheaton did even up the contest to tie the matchup at 46-46 with 9:35 left in the second. However, the hosts pulled away for good thanks to a 20-1 run over a span of 6:20 to give the Pioneers a 66-47 lead with 3:05 remaining in the game. Carroll utilized the late run to secure the 68-52 victory.

Wheaton shot 35.4% (17-of-48) from the field, including 26.1% (6-of-23) from three-point range. The Pioneers posted a 55.3% (26-of-47) field goal percentage, including 41.2% (7-of-17) behind the three-point arc. Wheaton shot 70.6% (12-of-17) from the free throw line and the Pioneers had a 75% (9-of-12) effort at the charity stripe. Carroll out-rebounded the Thunder 30-29 and Wheaton had a 10-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Ben Widdes led Carroll with 18 points. Nick Penny and Tyler Ingebrigtsen each scored 11 points for the hosts. Ingebrigtsen led the Pioneers with six rebounds, while Widdes and Zaeske each grabbed five boards.

Wheaton will close out the regular season on Tuesday at Carthage in a 7:00 p.m. tipoff against the Red Men.