CHICAGO – Back at home for the first time in over a month, University of Chicago men's basketball looked to extend their three-game winning streak when they welcomed Wheaton to the Ratner Athletic Center. The Maroons used a strong first half to weather a late Thunder run to earn the seven-point win in their last home contest of the 2023 calendar year.

FINAL SCORE
Wheaton – 52
UChicago – 59

HOW IT HAPPENED

• University of Chicago (7-2) and Wheaton (2-8) went back and forth for the first few minutes of the first half before the Maroons offense took over. Tied at 10-10, UChicago went on a 13-3 run within a five-minute span, capped off by Thomas Kurowski layup with 8:33 left to go in the half. That ten-point lead would eventually grow to 15 by the end of the frame as the Maroons took a 36-21 advantage into halftime.
• The lead they ended the opening twenty minutes with was as large as they would hold in the game, and although they never gave away the advantage, the Thunder did have an attempted comeback within them. With UChicago still holding a double-digit lead with 2:13 left, Wheaton started chipping away and got back within two possessions with 26 seconds remaining.
• Thankfully, the Thunder would miss two three-point attempts down the stretch and a Bryce Hopkins free throw with 12 seconds to go put the game back into three trip territory in the Maroons seven-point win.

UCHICAGO STAT TRACKER
Points – Thomas Kurowski (17)
Rebounds – Luke Smith (10)
Assists – Luke Smith (3)
Steals – Bryce Hopkins (2)
Blocks – Luke Smith & Jackson Piotrowski (2)

WHO'S ON DECK
The men will be back in action on Tuesday when they head to the Lone Star State for a two-game trip starting with Southwestern University. Game time from Georgetown, Texas is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

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