MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- A bigger and stronger Wheaton College team proved themselves to be too much for the North Central University Men's Basketball team. The Thunder wore down the Rams for a 73-49 victory in CLC Gymnasium on Saturday night.

North Central (6-4, 0-0) was able to stay with Wheaton College (10-1) for most of the first half before the Thunder were able to get a bit of breathing room to earn a 33-23 halftime lead. The Rams had been within four of Wheaton before an unforced turnover and a Thunder three pointer made the score 23-17 with 4:47 to go in the first half. The Thunder closed on a 16-6 run over the final five minutes of the half to take control of the game.

The Thunder came in as the ninth ranked team in the NCAA Division III D3Hoops.com national poll but had lost their first game of the season last night. It was clear they were determined to get back in the win column on Saturday and used a red-hot 11-22 shooting night from behind the three point line to pull away from NCU.

Despite a Wheaton size advantage at every spot on the floor NCU was able to stay within 39-33 on the glass but 15 were offensive rebounds. Those offensive boards and 25 NCU turnovers gave the Thunder extra chances that were the difference as they shot 25 more field goal attempts than The Rams. Both teams shot 43 percent from the floor overall. 

Junior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) led NCU with 18 points. Junior Bryce Burkman (Winsted, Minn./Maple Grove) added 10 points and a game high 9 rebounds. Senior Nathan Roeder (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) had 9 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.

North Central will be away from action until January 4 when they travel down highway 94 east to take on Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minn.) in their final non-conference game of the regular season. The Rams and Auggies will tip off at 3 p.m.