Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton men's basketball team defeated UW-Eau Claire 85-77 tonight in the championship game of the 2021 Lee Pfund Classic. Wheaton is now 4-0 on the season and the Thunder hand the Blugolds (4-1) their first loss of the 2021-22 season.

Thunder senior Nyameye Adom was named the Will Landry Memorial MVP of the tournament, and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Tyson Cruickshank. Adom scored a career-high 41 points tonight, improving on his previous career-high of 31 points against Millikin on January 28, 2021. Adom was 11-of-17 from the field tonight, and had an 18-for-20 effort at the free throw line.

Cruickshank (PICTURED LEFT) tallied a "double-double" with 24 points and 10 rebounds, adding six assists. Cade Alioth scored eight points, with four rebounds and three steals. Eddie Scott added six points for the hosts, while Eli Considine distributed three assists.

Wheaton shot 50% (23-of-46) from the field tonight, including 26.7% (4-for-15) behind the three-point arc. The Blugolds posted a 54.7% (29-of-53) field goal percentage, including 41.2% (7-of-17) from three-point range. Wheaton shot 81.4% (35-of-43) at the free throw line tonight and UW-Eau Claire had an 85.7% (12-of-14) effort at the charity stripe. The Thunder held a narrow 26-25 rebounding advantage tonight, including a 9-8 edge on the offensive glass.

Spencer Page led UW-Eau Claire with 20 points, and Brock Voigt added 18 points with seven rebounds. David Ijadimbola tallied 12 points and Michael Casper scored seven. Voigt and Casper represented their team on the all-tournament team.

Wheaton came out strong tonight. The Thunder led 8-2 in the first three minutes and built a 10-point lead at 20-10 with 11:40 remaining in the game. Wheaton led by seven at 39-32 in the final minute, but a UWEC three-pointer by Page in the closing seconds cut Wheaton's advantage to four points at 39-35. Adom led the Thunder in the first half with 15 points. Cruickshank added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Adom converted an and-one to give Wheaton a 46-37 lead with 17:20 left in the second half. UW-Eau Claire responded with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 48-48 with 14:00 left in the contest. The matchup was tied 50-50 when Cruickshank drained a three-pointer with 12:35 left in the game to give Wheaton a 53-50 lead. Wheaton never relinquished the lead after Cruickshank's basket. The Thunder held on for the win
Wheaton travels to University of Chicago on Tuesday evening for a matchup with the Maroons.

All-Tournament Team
Will Landry Memorial MVP: Nyameye Adom (Wheaton)
Michael Casper (UW-Eau Claire)
Jack Clement (Ohio Wesleyan
Tyson Cruickshank (Wheaton)
Carter Glenn (Nebraska Wesleyan)
Brock Voigt (UW-Eau Claire)