Jan. 7, 2009 - With each of the eight institutions in the College Confrence of Illinois and Wisconsin boasting quality men's basketball teams this season, the North Central College Cardinals entered Wednesday's CCIW opener against North Park University knowing they needed to take care of business at home.
The hosts did exactly that against the Vikings, putting together a strong start and leading nearly the entire way through an 81-66 victory at Gregory Arena.
The Cardinals (9-3, 1-0 CCIW) traded baskets with North Park in the first two minutes, but a 15-4 run vaulted North Central into a 22-9 advantage with 8:19 left in the first period. Chris Drennan (Sr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) scored eight of the Cardinals' points in the surge.
Over the next six minutes, North Park was able to whittle its deficit down to 27-22, but the home team closed the half with a 10-2 run to carry a 37-24 lead into halftime. Dominique King (Sr., Plainfield, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Mitch Raridon (Sr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast) hit consecutive three-pointers in a 25-second stretch just before the break.
The Vikings (8-5, 0-2) rallied once again early in the second half, closing the gap to 45-41 with 13:14 remaining. Leading, 56-51, with 8:49 left, North Central put the game away with a 12-2 run that yielded a 68-53 advantage. Matt Rogers (Sr., Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) closed the rally with eight straight points, including a pair of three-point plays.
The Cardinals led by at least 10 points the rest of the game, making 10 of 12 free throws in the final two minutes to seal the victory.
North Central dominated play in the low post, owning a 40-31 rebounding advantage and outscoring the Vikings, 42-31, in the paint. The Cardinals also held a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers. Drennan finished with a game-high 18 points, while Rogers totaled 16 and Reid Barringer (Jr., Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) scored 14. Barringer also led North Central with three steals, while Raridon was the team's leader in rebounds (8) and assists (5).
Phil Schniedermeier paced North Park with 14 points, while Roshawn Russell scored 13.
The Cardinals travel to face 19th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Titans (8-4, 0-1) lost, 74-70, to No. 1-ranked Wheaton College on Wednesday.
