PICTURED ABOVE: Ricky Samuelson led the Thunder with 27 points in Wheaton's 90-81 victory at Carthage on Wedneday night.

Kenosha, Wis. - The Thunder men's basketball team picked up a key CCIW victory on Saturday night with a 90-81 win at Carthage College. Entering play tied in the loss column in a crowded CCIW race, the Thunder remained just a game out of first place as they wrapped up the first half of the conference schedule at 6-2 in CCIW games and 12-4 overall. The Red Men fell two games off the pace to 4-3 in conference games and 9-7 overall. Having won two-of-three during a challenging three-game road trip, Wheaton returns home for a nonconference matchup on Saturday night when the Thunder play host to IIT for a 7 pm tipoff.

Wheaton was lights out from the jump on Wednesday night, shooting 51.7% (30-58) from the field and an equally impressive 48.1% (13-27) from the three-point line while finishing 70.8% (17-24) from the free throw line. Carthage shot 42.6% (29-68) from the field and 36.8% (7-19) from the three-point line. The Red Men made 16-of-23 free throw attempts (69.6%). Wheaton narrowly won the rebounding battle 40-37 despite giving up 13 offensive rebounds.

Kobe Eichelberger's three-pointer 35 seconds into the game established the only lead change of the game and sparked a quick start for the Thunder that saw the visitors race out to a 10-point advantage at 17-7 just shy of four minutes into the game. Spencer Peterson's three-pointer pushed the Thunder lead to 23-9 before the Red Men found their footing and came charging back into the game behind the scoring prowess of Kienan Baltimore. A personal eight-point run by Baltimore cut Wheaton's lead to 29-27 with 6:10 to play in the half. Baltimore would lead all scorers with 31 points including 19 in the first half.

Ricky Samuelson and Aston Francis each scored five straight points to compile a 10-0 Thunder run to push the lead back out to 13 points until a late basket cut Wheaton's halftime advantage to 45-34.

Eichelberger also started Wheaton's second half with a three-pointer, but Carthage would respond with an eight-point run to pull within five before an Aston Francis three-pointer stemmed the tide. Carthage pulled within a possession again on a jumper by Baltimore at the 15:22 mark but Wheaton went on 23-7 run over the next seven minutes to post the biggest lead of the game at 74-55 on one of Samuelson's five three-pointers on the night. The Red Men would not go quietly, rattling off nine straight points before a Francis lay-up at the 6:08 mark.

The Red Men would get as close as four points on Derek Mason's three-pointer with 1:09 to go but the Thunder broke Carthage's press on the ensuing possession to find Samuelson for an uncontested lay-up and Luke Peters (PICTURED RIGHT) and Zack Kvam put the game away at the free throw line to account for the 90-81 win.

Samuelson led the Thunder with 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting including five three-pointers. Aston Francis posted a career-high 10 rebounds to pair with 23 points and five assists. Luke Peters also recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 13 assists. Eichelberger added nine points and Trevor Gunter provided eight points and seven rebounds.