Wheaton, Ill. – The seventh-ranked Wheaton Thunder mens' basketball team picked up an 87-75 victory at home against Carthage on Saturday afternoon. Wheaton (5-0 CCIW) improves to 5-0 on the season, while Carthage is now 3-2 on the year (3-2 CCIW).

Guard Tyson Cruickshank led the Thunder with a career-high 32 points and he added six assists. Cruickshank made five three-pointers and he grabbed four rebounds. The junior scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half of tonight's matchup.

Nyameye Adom scored 22 points with six rebounds and four assists. Cade Alioth (PICTURED LEFT) scored 21 points  and grabbed 12 rebounds to register his league-best third "double-double" of the season. Luke Anthony scored six points with seven rebounds.

The Thunder shot 48.4% (21-of-64) from the field tonight, including 40.7% (11-of-27) behind the three-point arc. Carthage posted a 40% (26-of-65) field goal percentage, including 33.3% (8-of-24) from three-point range. Wheaton out-rebounded the guests 45-38, with a 9-8 advantage on the offensive glass for Carthage.

Wheaton never trailed in tonight's game. The Thunder scored the first six points of the game and held an 11-point lead at 19-8 just five minutes into the first half. Wheaton's largest lead of the first half was a 22-point bulge at 22-11 with 10:45 remaining before halftime. Wheaton maintained a sizable double-digit lead for the rest of the first half as the guests led 48-30 at halftime.

Adom (PICTURED RIGHT) scored 18 points in the first half with four rebounds. Cruickshank tallied all six of his assists for the game in the opening half. Alioth and Cruickshank each scored 11 points in the first 20 minutes.

Wheaton led 59-41 with 14:15 left in the game when Cruickshank drained a three-pointer off a Thunder offensive rebound; and he made a layup on Wheaton's next possession to give the hosts their largest lead of the game with a 23-point advantage at 64-41 with 13:30 remaining. The 'Orange and Blue' maintained their double-digit lead throughout the second half in earning the 87-75 win.

Filip Bultovic led Carthage with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes of action. Joshua Washburn tallied 22 points for guests, making four three-pointers. Sean Johnson scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, with three blocked shots.

The Thunder return to action on Tuesday night when North Park visits King Arena for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff against the Vikings.