DECATUR, Ill. (Jan. 31, 2009) - The North Central College men's basketball team came up short in its attempt to record a season sweep of Millikin University, as the Big Blue shot nearly 70 percent from the floor and defeated the Cardinals, 80-73, at the Griswold Center.

Millikin (13-6, 3-5 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) knocked down 29 of 42 shots (69.0 percent) from the floor in the game, including a 15-for-20 effort (75.0 percent) in the first half. The Cardinals stayed in front throughout the game's first few minutes, but an 8-0 Millikin rally gave the hosts their first lead with 7:56 left in the first half.

The lead would change hands 10 times in the final seven minutes of the period. Reid Barringer (Jr., Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) sank a three-pointer with 34 seconds left to give North Central a 38-36 lead,  but Millikin's Devin Demby converted a three-point play with five ticks on the clock to give the Big Blue a 39-38 advantage at the break.

David Twyman (Jr., Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) opened the second half with a basket to put the Cardinals back in front, but Millikin scored seven straight points to regain the lead. The Big Blue's advantage grew as large as 14 points in the second period, and a late comeback effort by the Cardinals was only enough to shave the lead down to five points.

Barringer made six three-point shots en route to a game-high 22 points. Matt Rogers (Sr., Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) scored 19 points, while Mitch Raridon (Sr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast) scored 11 and Twyman turned in 10 to go with a team-best seven rebounds.

Millikin, which owned a 29-19 rebounding advantage in addition to its shooting performance, was paced by Demby and Corey Mitchell, each of whom scored 19 points.

North Central (13-6, 5-3 CCIW) travels to North Park University (Ill.) on Wednesday.