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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score

WHEATON , Ill. (Feb. 27, 2009) - The North Central College men's basketball team saw the 2008-2009 campaign come to a close Friday night, as the Cardinals were bounced from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament by top-seeded Wheaton College, 77-66, at King Arena.

It was the second loss to the same team in six days for the Cardinals (16-10), who dropped a 70-60 decision to the Thunder on Feb. 21.

The Cardinals were not intimidated by the hostile atmosphere at Wheaton, roaring to a 13-4 lead in the first five minutes of play. Matt Rogers was at the forefront of the North Central attack, burying six points in the game-opening run.

The Thunder rallied and worked their way back to an 18-18 deadlock following seven straight points by All-American guard Kent Raymond, but North Central immediately threw in a surge of its own, scoring 10 straight to regain the lead. Reid Barringer knocked down a pair of three-pointers during that stretch, while Chris Drennan's fast-break layup prompted Wheaton coach Bill Harris to call a time out.

North Central managed to stay in front until the final seconds of the first period. Wheaton narrowed the gap to 38-36 following Raymond's jumper with 1:03 to play, and the Thunder's leading scorer sank a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to provide the hosts with a 39-38 advantage as the teams headed into halftime.
Raymond poured in 18 first-half points to lead Wheaton's effort, while Rogers' 14 points helped the Cardinals keep pace.

A pair of free throws by Raymond opened the second period, though a layup by Drennan and a jumper by Rogers helped the visitors edge back in front. The Cardinals stayed a step ahead until 11:17 remained, when Raymond's three-pointer erased a three-point Wheaton deficit and tied the game at 49-49. The teams traded baskets until 5:32 remained, when Jeremy Pflederer's three-pointer and Raymond's bucket inside put the Thunder ahead, 60-57.

The Cardinals kept pace and trailed by just one point, 62-61, before Pflederer scored on back-to-back possessions, sinking a three before coming up with a steal and sailing in for a layup, to provide Wheaton with a 67-61 edge and prompt a North Central time out with 4:10 to play.

Pflederer's self-financed scoring run proved to be enough to keep the Thunder in front the rest of the evening, as Wheaton held at least a five-point lead the rest of the way.

Rogers paced the Cardinals with 26 points. Drennan totaled 15 points of 7 of 10 shooting, while Mark Adams notched 12 points to match the season high he established in last week's encounter with Wheaton. Drennan also finished with six rebounds and Dean Prince contributed four assists.

Raymond led all scorers with 36 points, while Pflederer added 15 and Andy Wiele put up 10 to go with a team-best six rebounds.

Wheaton (23-3) will take on Elmhurst College, a 59-53 winner over Augustana College in the evening's other semifinal, in Saturday's CCIW championship game