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

Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. (Jan. 27, 2010) - Rallying from a double-digit second-half deficit and staving off a last-second comeback attempt, the North Central College men's basketball team snapped a two-game losing skid with a 72-71 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory over Elmhurst College at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Trailing, 39-34, at halftime, the Cardinals (9-9, 2-5 CCIW) fell behind, 57-43, before embarking on a 23-2 run to pull ahead, 66-59, with 4:17 remaining. Derek Raridon scored 10 points during the game-changing rally for North Central, which allowed the Bluejays to convert just one field goal in nearly 10 minutes.

Elmhurst (5-13, 0-7 CCIW) got two straight three-pointers from Dustin Bainter to narrow the gap to 66-65, though Raridon and Brian Evans each scored in the paint to build the Cardinals' advantage back up to 70-65 with 1:47 to play. Bainter, however, sank four free throws on two trips down the court to negate North Central's progress.

The Bluejays got a layup from Zack Boyd with just seven seconds to play, briefly taking a 71-70 advantage. Following a North Central timeout, the Cardinals got the ball to Evans, who converted a layup with two seconds left to secure the win for the visitors.

Raridon and Evans both turned in double-doubles for North Central. Raridon finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Evans turned in a career-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Reid Barringer put up 18 points as well.

Bainter scored 25 points for Elmhurst, which also got 15 points from Boyd.

The Cardinals host Wheaton College (13-5, 5-2 CCIW) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.