Wheaton shot 60% (17-28) from the field in the first half and 5-10 from the three-point line in finishing 57.7% (30-52) from the field and 57.1% (8-14) from beyond the arc.  Wheaton was 14-22 (63.6%) from the free throw line.  The Vikings also shot well in the first half, shooting 57.7% (15-26) and 41.7% (5-12) from the three-point line but struggled from the charity stripe, going 0-4.  North Park finished shooting 44.8% (26-58) from the field, 38.1% (8-21) from downtown and 10-18 from the free throw line.

The opening minutes of the game were a back and forth affair with the lead changing hands three times before the Thunder methodically pulled away to a comfortable cushion.  Consecutive three-pointers by Kvam in a twenty-second span gave Wheaton their biggest lead of the half at 41-28 with 2:50 to play.  A Chris Benjamin jumper at the buzzer would close the halftime gap down to 43-35.  Wheaton used their size and depth to their advantage as they outscored the Vikings 22-8 in the paint and 17-2 off the bench.

The Vikings would get no closer than six points in the second half as Wheaton opened up a double digit advantage in the opening minutes of the second half and the would stay above the 10-point threshold for the remainder of the contest.  A pair of Tyler Peters (PICTURED LEFT) free throws with 2:44 remaining gave Wheaton its biggest lead of the night at 18 points and the Thunder coasted to an 82-70 victory.

Peters finished the game with eight points but tied a career high with 10 assists while also recording five rebounds and five steals. Brayden Teuscher (PICTURED RIGHT) scored 15 points on 6-7 shooting from the field.

Benjamin and Zach Cassita each scored 17 points for North Park and Mark Holmes recorded a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Wheaton will continue their road trip on Saturday when they travel to the Shirk Center for a 7 PM tipoff against the  #12-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University Titans.  IWU opened the CCIW schedule with an 83-80 victory in King Arena earlier this season.