ELMHURST, Ill. (Jan. 21, 2009) - The North Central College men's basketball team ran step-for-step with the Elmhurst College Bluejays until the home stretch on Wednesday evening at R.A. Faganel Hall, but the hosts' final sprint proved too much for the Cardinals, as Elmhurst scored a 72-66 victory in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action.

After trailing, 33-32, at halftime, North Central (11-5, 3-2 CCIW) opened the second period with baskets by David Twyman (Jr., Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and Reid Barringer (Jr., Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) to move in front. The Cardinals held a 50-47 advantage with 10:48 to play, when Jon Knapczyk (Jr., Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) converted two layups and Matt Rogers (Sr., Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) added another to give the visitors their largest lead at 56-47.

19th-ranked Elmhurst (12-4, 3-2) gathered itself and outscored the Cardinals, 16-7, over the next five minutes and forced a 63-63 tie with 2:29 to play. The Bluejays' Ryan Burks was fouled attempting a three-pointer and made all three free throws to put the hosts ahead, 66-63, but a free throw by Twyman and a layup by Dean Prince (Sr., Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) knotted the score once again, 66-66, with just 1:10 on the clock.

The Bluejays managed to turn their final three possessions into points, going 6 for 6 from the charity stripe in the final 51 seconds. The Cardinals, meanwhile, went 0 for 2 from the floor with a turnover in the same span.

Twyman led all scorers with a career-high 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting, and also led North Central with five rebounds. Mitch Raridon (Sr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast) added 11 points for the Cardinals.

Elmhurst had four double-figure scorers, led by Burks' 16 points. Brent Ruch added 15 for the Bluejays, while Dustin Bainter scored 12 and Chris Childs added 10.

The Cardinals return home to face Carthage College (Wis.) on Saturday at Gregory Arena. The Red Men (12-4, 4-1) knocked off No. 1-ranked Wheaton College, 55-54, on Wednesday.