Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton men's basketball team earned a 79-61 victory at home against Carroll University (5-10, 1-5 CCIW) on Saturday night. Wheaton improves to 10-4 overall and 3-2 in CCIW play with tonight's victory.

Thunder senior Aston Francis led the Thunder with 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field as he made six three-pointers. Francis added three assists and two steals. Nyameye Adom scored 12 points with four assists off the Thunder bench. Kobe Eichelberger was 4-of-6 from the field, scoring 11 points. With three assists. Anajuwon Spencer added eight points with four rebounds and three assists. Luke Peters added four assists and Spencer Peterson grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

The opening 14 minutes of the game were tightly contested with five ties and three lead changes. Carroll's Nick Penny made a three-pointer with 5:58 left in the first half to tie the score at 26-26. Luke Peters made a pair of free throws with 5:45 left in the opening half to spark a string of 12 unanswered points for the Thunder as Wheaton led 38-26 at halftime. The Wheaton offense had an efficient first half as the hosts shot 63.2% (12-of-19) from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 50% (4-for-8) from three-point range.

Wheaton out-scored the Pioneers 13-4 in the first three and a half minutes of the second half as the hosts extended the lead from 12 points to 21 points at a 51-30 Thunder advantage with 16:30 left in the game. Wheaton maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest. The largest Wheaton advantage of the game was 32-point bulge at 75-43 with 7:55 remaining in regulation.

Wheaton posted a 54.2% (26-of-48) field goal percentage in the game, including 61.1% (11-of-18) from three-point range. The Pioneers shot 40% (24-of-60) from the field, including 25% (5-of-20) from three-point range. Wheaton shot 61.5% (16-for-26) at the free throw line and the Pioneers had a 42.1% (8-of-19) effort at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded Carroll 39-33, with an 11-5 edge for the Pioneers on the offensive glass.

Ryan Clarey led Carroll with 13 points and six rebounds. Tyler Ingebrightsen scored 12 points with five rebounds for the guests.

Wheaton travels to Millikin next Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff against the Big Blue.