Wheaton, Ill. -- The 28th edition of the Lee Pfund Classic got underway in King Arena on Friday evening, as the Wheaton men's basketball team welcomed University of Dubuque, The University of Olivet, and Rockford University for its annual four-team tournament. The Thunder played against Rockford in tonight's second semifinal matchup, marking the first meeting between the two programs in the 21st century. The visiting Regents spoiled the occasion and claimed a 79-65 victory to earn a place in Saturday's championship game. They will face Dubuque after the Spartans defeated the Olivet Comets, 77-69, on Friday. Wheaton will take on Olivet at 5 PM tomorrow in the competition's consolation game.
The first half of tonight's semifinal was a low-scoring and sloppy affair, with Rockford holding Wheaton to 20 points and the two sides making only seven of their 29 total three-point attempts while combining for 12 turnovers.
Kyle Neibch opened the scoring with a successful three-point try, and after five minutes of back-and-forth basketball,
Christian Veirs dropped in a triple of his own to make it 10-8 on the scoreboard. But this would mark the last time all night that the hosts held the lead, as Rockford posted a 6-0 run to move in front and never looked back. The second half of the opening period proved to be a costly stretch for the Thunder, as their NACC opponents outscored them 23-10 and registered seven of the half's last 11 points to carve out a double-digit advantage at the break.
Wheaton's offensive efficiency improved dramatically after halftime, with the hosts scoring 45 points in the second half and shooting 54% from the floor and 75% from the free throw line. But the Regents also found their scoring touch in the second period, posting 48 points from 55% shooting and matching the Thunder on five second-half three-pointers. On multiple occasions, Wheaton mounted a small resurgance and managed to get within one basket of a single-digit deficit. But Rockford always had the answer to these momentum swings and repeatedly came up with a big shot or turnover to keep its cushion intact.
The Regents' advantage on the glass was key to their success tonight, with the visitors out-rebounding Wheaton by a 45-31 margin, including ten offensive boards to the Thunder's three. Rockford also stole the ball away nine times to edge the turnover battle on Friday. Rockford finished the game with a 46% shooting figure while Wheaton managed a 41% tally, and the two squads posted similar free throw and three-point statistics. The Thunder held advantages in fast break scoring and bench points this evening, but their visitors registered a decisive 38-26 tilt in points in the paint.
Soren Richardson led all players tonight with 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, earned two assists, and blocked a shot attempt.
Noah Hedrick (pictured above) came off the bench to tally 16 points and four boards while shooting 67% from the field. Neibch led the team in rebounding with seven collections while scoring eight points and joining Richardson on two dimes.
Nathan Clark went 4-4-4 in scoring, rebounding, and assisting and earned one takeaway. Veirs contributed seven points, a pair of boards, two assists, one block, and one steal from the bench.
Wheaton faces a short turnaround and will look to get back in the win column tomorrow in their 5 PM matchup with Olivet, before Rockford and Dubuque close out the 2024 Classic in the 7 PM Championship game.
