The Millikin men's basketball team lost to #22 Wheaton College 62-52 at the Griswold Center on Feb. 9.

          Millikin battled the Thunder for the entire game with Wheaton holding a 32-28 advantage at the half.  The Big Blue stayed with the Thunder for much of the second half pulling to within six at 52-46 with just over five minutes left to play.  Wheaton shot 50 percent from the field while Millikin hit on 32 percent.  Wheaton had a slight rebounding edge 34-31. 

          Millikin got 13 points and 10 rebounds from Deavis Johnson, his fifth double double of the season.  TJ Griffin had 10 points.   Senior Rodney Clark playing his final home game for Millikin had eight points, three rebounds and three steals.

          Nathan Haynes led the Thunder with 18 points and 15 rebounds.  Tyler Peters added 15.

          The game marked the second time this week that Millikin's freshmen dominated squad played tough against a team ranked in the Top 25.  The Big Blue lost to #11 North Central on Wednesday 59-58 when Millikin's game winning shot game just a fraction of a second after the final buzzer.

          Wheaton improves to 18-5, 8-4 while Millikin goes to 8-15, 4-8.   The Big Blue travel to Illinois Wesleyan on Feb. 16 for a 7 p.m. game.