Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's basketball team wrapped up a season-opening four-game home stand on Saturday night with an 81-51 victory over Olivet College. Entering play averaging over 88 points per game, Wheaton held the Comets to just 23 second half points in improving to 3-1 on the season and knocking the Comets to 1-2. Wheaton will travel to the University of Chicago on Tuesday for its first road game of the season and an 8 pm tip-off.

Wheaton shot a season-best 50% from the field including 61.5% in the second half and was 38.1% from the three-point line with a 71.4% (15-21) showing at the free throw line. Olivet was held to just one-of-10 from beyond the arc in a 37.3% shooting performance. The Comets converted just six of their 12 free throw attempts.

The Thunder jumped out to a 15-9 lead six minutes into action when Nyameye Adom connected on a three-pointer, but the Comets kept things close, scoring the next six points to the game. With the score tied at 17, Wheaton ran off five-straight points on a three-point play by Cade Alioth and an Adom lay-up. Olivet kept the Thunder from pulling away, keeping the lead under five until the final minute when Wheaton jumped to an eight-point edge, but the Comets were able to score at the end of the half to cut the halftime deficit to 34-28.

After trading baskets to start the second half, Wheaton took control of the game wth a 9-0 run bookended by a three-pointer and a lay-up by Adom to put Wheaton in the drivers seat with a 45-30 lead. Olivet answered with six straight points to get back within nine points, but five straight from the Thunder pushed the lead back into double digits where it would remain for the rest of the night. Anajuwon Spencer highlighted a 13-2 run by the Thunder through the middle of the half with a three-pointer and a thundering dunk (VIDEO) in traffic, giving Wheaton a 68-45 lead. Wheaton would build the lead to as many as 32 in the final minutes, finishing the game on an extended 26-8 run over the final nine and a half minutes to pull away for the 81-51 victory.

Nyameye Adom led the Thunder wth 24 points an sseven rebounds. Tyson Cruickshank battled foul trouble to put up 13 points. Cade Alioth also put up 13 points, adding nine rebounds and four assists. Anajuwon Spencer had 12 points and Eli Considine set career highs with nine points and six rebounds. Colin Uveges registered a career-high five steals.