Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's basketball team closed its weekend ledger with a 72-56 victory over the University of Olivet in the consolation game of the Lee Pfund Classic. The victory evens Wheaton's record at 3-3 on the season while Olivet falls to 1-4 overall. The Thunder continue its seven-game homestand on Tuesday when Wheaton hosts Hope College for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.

Wheaton shot 26-for-58 (44.8%) from the field while converting on 11 of 32 three-point attempts for a 34.4% clip. Olivet was held to 21.4% (3-14) from the three-point line despite a 42% (21-50) rate from the field. The Comets made 11-of-15 (73.3%) of its free throw attempts while Wheaton converted nine of its 14 charity tosses. Olivet held the edge on the bords 38-29 including a 9-6 margin in offensive rebounds. Wheaton's defense stymied the Olivet offense to the tune of 16 steals on 24 Olivet turnovers.

Olivet held the early lead through the first five minutes of action before a 9-0 Thunder run gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Consecutive threes from Kyle Neibch and Christian Viers jumpstarted the run that put Wheaton ahead 20-12 nine minutes into the contest. The Comets would close back within to within one at 23-22 but the Thunder ran off the next nine points to lead 32-22 en route to a 36-29 halftime lead. 

A quick start to the second half for Olivet brought the visitors back within three points but Steven Schultz answered with a three-pointer to spark a quick 7-0 run to push the lead back out to 46-36. Wheaton finally put the game out of reach at the midway point of the second half, kicking off an 11-0 run that saw Olivet held scoreless for nearly six minutes as the Thunder cruised to the 72-56 victory.

Noah Hedrick and Soren Richardson led the Thunder with 18 points apiece with Richardson adding a game-high five assists. Kyle Neibch knocked down a game-high five three-pointers en route to a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Richardson, Schultz, and Ty Ferguson each tallied three steals.

Note Worthy: Richardson was named to the Lee Pfund Classic All-Tournament Team...the double-double by Neibch was the first of his Thunder career...the Thunder victory was the 399th career win for Wheaton head coach Mike Schauer.

2024 LEE PFUND CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Will Landry Memorial MVP Award: Jaylin McCants, University of Dubuque
Tre Miller, Rockford University
Nathan Richardson, University of Olivet
Soren Richardson, Wheaton College
Micah Swanson, Rockford University
Grady Thomspon , University of Dubuque