Wheaton, IL -- The Beloit College Men's Basketball team dropped their season opener at Wheaton College on Friday night, falling 81-44.
The Thunder jumped out quickly in the game, racing to a 14-2 lead six minutes in. Beloit cut it back to 17-11 at the 9:28 mark with a 9-3 run but Wheaton countered with a 15-5 run to lead 32-16 with 5:54 left in the half.
WC led 40-22 with three minutes left and closed the half on a 7-2 run to lead 47-24 at the break.
Wheaton pushed the lead to 28 at the 16:36 mark of the second half before Beloit cut it back to 58-34 at 11:46. That's as close as they would get.
The Thunder's largest lead was 39 at 74-35 with 3:21 left.
Michael Horton led the Buccaneers with ten points. Tyler Butke added nine.
The Bucs will play Buena Vista University, a 75-71 loser to Wilmington College in the first semifinal, in the Consolation Game at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
