Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder men's basketball team remained undefeated on Saturday following a 79-75 victory against Hope College (3-3) in the final game of the Ninth Annual CCIW/MIAA Classic in Wheaton's King Arena. The Thunder improves to 6-0 and will host Westminster College on Thursday at 7:30 PM. Carthage defeated Calvin 74-63 in Saturday's other game in King Arena.

Hope led the Thunder 27-22 with 7:10 remaining in the first half when Wheaton responded with a 16-7 run that gave Wheaton a 38-34 lead with three minutes left in the opening half. Wheaton held a 40-36 lead at halftime.

Wheaton scored the first four points of the second half to extend its lead to 44-36. The Flying Dutchmen responded with a 7-2 run that trimmed the Wheaton lead to 46-43 with 16:30 left in regulation.

Wheaton held a narrow three-point lead at 48-45 when the Thunder embarked on a 17-5 scoring burst that increased the hosts' lead to 65-50 with 9:15 left in the game. Guards Brayden Teuscher and Tyler Peters combined to score 11 of the 17 points in the run that was capped by three-pointers from Michael Kvam and Michael Berg. Hope responded with stingy defense and some key baskets to score nine unanswered points to cut Wheaton's lead to 65-59 with 6:15 remaining in the game.

 Peter Smith countered with a key three-pointer to stop the guests 9-0 run and increase Wheaton's lead to nine points. A late surge by Hope twice trimmed the Wheaton lead to four points, but the Flying Dutchmen could get no closer as a four-point margin served as the final score in the 79-75 win for Wheaton.

Peter Smith led Wheaton in scoring with 18 points and five assists. Peters scored 16 points, with nine rebounds and four assists. Kvam made three three-pointers as he scored 15 points. Junior forward Nathan Haynes scored 11 points, with 14 rebounds to record his second "double-double" of the year and the fourth time this season he registered double digits in rebounds this year. Teuscher scored nine points off the Wheaton bench and Berg added eight points with five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Wheaton shot 45.8% (22-48) from the field, including 42.1% (8-19) from three-point range and 87.1% (27-31) at the free throw line. Hope registered a 43.1% (28-65) field goal percentage, with 31.3% (5-16) from behind the three-point arc and 63.6% (14-22) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the visitors 38-32, with Hope holding a 12-8 edge on the offensive glass.

Billy Seiler led Hope with 18 points and Colton Overway scored 14 points, with five rebounds and five assists. Nate Snuggerud tallied 13 points, with seven rebounds and Brock Benson added 12 points off the Hope bench.