Wheaton, Ill. – North Central College (8-1, 3-1 CCIW) defeated the Thunder men's basketball team 69-59 on Saturday night in King Arena. Wheaton is now 8-3 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.

Aston Francis (PICTURED LEFT) led the Thunder with 20 points, making three three-pointers. Francis had a team-high eight rebounds. Anajuwon Spencer scored 15 points with seven rebounds. Spencer Peterson scored eight points with two blocked shots.

Matt Cappelletti led North Central with 19 points and seven rebounds. Connor Raridon scored 15 points with 13 rebounds and two assists. Blaise Meredith scored nine points with four rebounds and two blocked shots.

Wheaton posted a 37.5% (21-of-56) field goal percentage, including 32% (8-of-25) from three-point range. North Central shot 36.7% (22-of-60) from the field tonight, including 43.5% (10-of-23) from three-point range. North Central out-rebounded the Cardinals 40-36, including an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass for the guests.

North Central had a strong first half to pace the Cardinals to an early lead. Wheaton led 5-1 in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the game, when North Central utilized a 21-3 run to give the hosts a 22-8 lead with 10:00 left in the first half. The Cardinals' largest lead of the game was a 31-point advantage at 41-10 with 5:05 left in the first half. The Cardinals led 47-24 at halftime.

Wheaton gradually cut the Cardinals' lead in the second half. The Thunder came within eight points of NCC on a layup by Jay Spencer that cut the Cardinals' lead to 60-52 with 5:25 remaining in the game. The eight-point deficit was the closest Wheaton could come to the Cardinals in the game.

Wheaton returns to action on December 29 at IIT.