The Thunder women's and men's basketball teams both opened Midwest Christian College Conference play over the weekend in Manhattan, Kansas. The Thunder would host the both Iowa teams in the Emmaus University Eagles and the Faith Baptist Bible College Eagles. The women would open conference play with the Eagles from Emmaus University on Friday evening. The Thunder would be up 32-15 at the half and would out score the Eagles in every quarter to win their first MCCC game, 60-40. The Thunder would shoot 42.4% from the field, 29.2% from the three-point line, and 20.0% from the free throw line. Four out of the seven players for the Thunder would score in double-figures, led by junior, Nekayla Williams who had 14 points on 7-15 shooting from the field, to go along with four rebounds and five blocks. Freshman, Macayla Hines would collect a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, to go along with six assists and three steals in all 40 minutes.

On Saturday, the Thunder would host #4 ranked team in the country, the Faith Baptist Bible College Eagles. The Thunder would force 23 turnovers, but 24 turnovers of their own and allowing 30 second chance points would allow for the Eagles to pull away in the end, 73-51. The Thunder would lead 18-14 after the first quarter, but a 28-9 second quarter by the Eagles would find the Thunder behind by 15 at the half. A strong third quarter for the Thunder would cut the deficit to 12 going into the final frame. The Eagles would outscore the Thunder by 10 in the fourth quarter to finish off the game. Williams would lead the Thunder again will 15 points and four rebounds, while Hines had 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Senior, Karlee Wahlmeier and freshman, Elayna Wegner would both chip in with eight points a piece. The Thunder would shoot 35.8% from the field, 25.0% from the three-point line, and 57.1% from the free throw line. After going 1-1 in conference play this weekend, the Thunder are now 3-6 overall and 1-1 in MCCC play.

The women will play their final game of the semester on the road against the Ecclesia College Royals on December 13th at 5:00 PM in Springdale, Arkansas.

The #10 ranked men would also open conference play with the Eagles from Emmaus University on Friday evening. The Thunder would lead by as much as 17 in the first half, but would take a 52-39 lead into halftime. The Eagles would only get as close as 10 in the second, while the Thunder would be up as much as 19 with 2:58 left in the game. The Thunder would finish off the Eagles and win by a score of 90-77. The Thunder would shoot 53.7% from the field, 38.5% from the three-point line, and 56.5% from the free throw line. Offensively, sophomore, Davis Rokey would pace the Thunder with 30 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Senior, Cody Mericle and redshirt-sophomore, Jordan Carter would each have 10 points, while junior, Fred Criqui would have an efficient night going 4-5 from the field for nine points to go with four rebounds. 

On Saturday, the #10 Thunder would take on the Faith Baptist Bible College Eagles, who were receiving votes to be in the most recent NCCAA Coaches' Top-10 Poll. The Thunder would find themselves up 21-9 halfway through the first half before the Eagles used a 9-0 run to cut the lead back to three. A 24-12 advantage to finish the half would put the Thunder up 45-30 at the break. The Thunder would control most of the second half bolstering the lead to as much as 26 with 2:34 left and finishing off the Eagles, 90-69. Junior, Landon Gray would lead the way for the Thunder with 23 points on 8-12 shooting from the field with four threes. Senior, Micah Lovett would have 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, four steals, and two blocks to stuff the stat sheet, while Rokey would finish with 13 points and six boards. With a 2-0 MCCC opening weekend, the Thunder are now 5-7 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.

The men will play their last game of the semester and final exhibition of the season on the road against NCAA Division II, the Rockhurst University Hawks, on December 16th at 12:00 PM in Kansas City, Missouri.

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