Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton men's basketball team, ranked 10th in the most recent D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, earned an 83-79 victory against North Central (7-5, 2-2 CCIW) on Saturday night in a key conference matchup. Wheaton is now 13-3 overall and 5-2 in CCIW play. The Thunder travel to Millikin on Wednesday night for a CCIW matchup against the Big Blue.

Four Thunder players scored in double digits tonight, led by 24 points for Nyameye Adom (PICTURED LEFT). He collected six rebounds, with three assists. Fellow guard Tyson Cruickshank scored 19 points, making three three-pointers. He distributed seven assists, collected five rebounds, blocked two shots, and snagged two steals. Eli Consdine played well on both ends of the court for the Thunder tonight. He scored 16 points, on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. Considine grabbed five rebounds, with three assists and two blocked shots. Cade Alioth tallied his Division III-leading 12th 'double-double' of the year. The Thunder senior collected 12 rebounds, with 10 points, and three assists. Luke Anthony and Collin Uveges each contributed seven points.

Wheaton shot 49.1% (26-53) from the field, including 40% (10-for-25) behind the three-point arc. The Cardinals posted a 41.4% (24-of-58) field goal percentage, including 31.8% (7-for-22) from three-point range. The shot 80.8% (21-for-26) at the free throw line and North Central had an 85.7% (24-for-28) effort at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the Cardinals 32-31, and North Central had a 9-6 edge on the offensive glass.

Matt Helwig led North Central with 36 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Ethan Helwig tallied 18 points, with three assists. Blaise Meredith scored 12 points, collecting five rebounds. Shea Cupples contributed eight points for the guests.

Wheaton gained an early six-point lead at 14-8 with 14:40 remaining in the first half. Adom scored nine of Wheaton's first 14 points. North Central battled back to tie the game at 20-20 with 7:45 remaining before halftime. The Thunder regained the lead for the majority of the remainder of the first half. Wheaton twice led by six points in the finals 3:30 of the second half. Considine made a three-pointer with 26-seconds left in the first half to snap a 35-35 tie and gave Wheaton a 38-35 lead that hosts held at the halftime intermission.

Adom led all players in the first half with 13 points, with two assists. Anthony scored seven points off the bench in the first half, and Alioth added six points with six rebounds. Helwig scored 11 points in the first 20 minutes to lead the Cardinals.

Wheaton started out strong in the second half as the hosts opened the half with a 14-4 run to take a 13-point lead at 52-39 with 16:20 remaining in the game. Considine made a trio of three-pointers in the key run. The Thunder held an 11-point lead at 54-43 with 13:30 remaining in the game when the Cardinals scored 12 unanswered points to take a 55-54 lead with 9:50 remaining in the game. It was NCC's first lead since 16:55 remained in the first half.

The score was tied 59-59 with 7:20 remaining in the game when Adom made a three-pointer to give the hosts a 62-59 lead. Wheaton never relinquished its advantage after that point. The Thunder led by three at 64-61 with 6:10 remaining in the game when Cruickshank (PICTURED RIGHT) made a layup that started a 6-1 Thunder run to extend the Wheaton lead to eight at 70-62 with three minutes remaining in the game. North Central turned the ball over twice in the Thunder run and Wheaton scored on the possession that followed each Cardinal miscue. Following that run, Wheaton held onto its lead for the final three minutes to earn the win against the Cardinals.

Cruickshank scored 12 points with three assists in the second half. Adom and Considine each scored 11 points for the hosts. Matt Helwig scored 25 points for the Cardinals in the final 20 minutes.