FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
ADRIAN, Mich. (Dec. 30, 2010) - The North Central College men's basketball team came within a few key plays of beating Adrian College at its own game on Thursday, but the Cardinals fell victim to a late rally and came out on the short end of a 41-35 decision at the Merillat Sports and Fitness Center.
The Bulldogs' bruising half-court defense kept the score low throughout the contest, but North Central was able to stay a step ahead until the hosts closed the game with a 14-2 run over the final seven minutes to put the contest away.
The Cardinals (4-7) kept Adrian off the board for the first 7:37, scoring the first 10 points. After the hosts narrowed the gap to 10-7, Derek Raridon countered by scoring five points in a 7-0 run that put North Central ahead, 17-7.
The guests then endured a scoring drought of just over six minutes, but did not surrender the lead. Owning a 17-16 advantage in the final minute of the first half, North Central got a bucket in the post by Jack Burchett and took a 19-17 lead into halftime.
Adrian (5-5) took their first lead at 27-26 after a layup by Delano Collins with 11:36 to play. The Bulldogs, however, were held scoreless for the next four minutes, during which time Raridon scored seven straight points to nudge the Cardinals in front, 33-27, with 7:30 on the clock.
North Central, however, followed by allowing the next nine points and missed its final 12 shots from the floor. Two free throws from Tyler Bantz with 1:39 to go left the score at 36-35, but Adrian's Wesley Reed knocked down a three-pointer on the next possession to put the Bulldogs in the driver's seat.
Raridon led all scorers with 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the floor. Burchett and Brian Evans each grabbed seven rebounds.
Reed paced Adrian with 15 points, while Sean Gallant totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cardinals open College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play at 18th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (8-2) on Wednesday. Tipoff at the Shirk Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
