The Millikin men's basketball team lost a thrilling overtime contest 92-84 to #24 Wheaton College in Decatur, Ill. on Jan. 4 to open play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Millikin opened the game with a 10-0 run and led the entire first half taking a 34-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Wheaton then showed why they are a top 25 team starting the second half strong taking the lead and building a 13 point advantage at 59-46 with nine minutes and 30 seconds left in the game.  The Big Blue then cranked up the pressure defense and fought its way back into the game tying the game at 68-68 with 2:34 left to play.

After two Tyler Peters free throws gave Wheaton a two point advantage, the Big Blue took a 71-70 advantage on a 3-pointer by Tives Gardner.  A Chase Robbins jumper put Millikin up 73-70, but Wheaton answered back on a Peters 3 to tie the game with 1:25 left to play.  Wheaton went up 78-76 with 24 seconds remaining on a Peter Smith 3-pointer.  Gardner then hit two free throws with seven seconds left to play setting up the overtime.

In the overtime, each time opened with a basket before the Thunder would take the lead on a Tad Fisher 3-pointer and then held on for the victory.

Wheaton shot 52 percent from the field including 59 percent in the second half.

Millikin shot 39 percent on the game.  The Thunder had the rebounding edge 40-38. 

TJ Griffin had 22 points to lead Millikin with Gardner scoring 21.  Deavis Johnson had 11 points and a team high nine rebounds.

Peters was the story for the Thunder especially in the second half and overtime session where he scored 27 of his game high 29 points.  Peters had eight rebounds. Brayden Teuscher had 17 points and Michael Berg added 13.

Wheaton is now 8-4, 1-0 while Millikin goes to 6-6, 0-1.

Millikin will hit the road for two straight playing at North Central College on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.  The Big Blue will be at Elmhurst on Jan. 11.