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

Box Score

Feb. 6, 2010 - The North Central College men's basketball team came through in the final seconds of a nailbiter Saturday afternoon, making enough big plays to come out on top of a 71-69 decision over Millikin University in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play at Gregory Arena.

Leading by as many as 11 points early in the second half, the Cardinals (11-10, 4-6 CCIW) watched Millikin storm back to lead by as many as four points before stepping up and claiming victory, getting a game-winning three-point play from Derek Raridon with 16 seconds remaining.

Staring up at a 45-34 deficit, the Big Blue (7-13, 2-8 CCIW) scored six straight points to get into contention, but did not threaten the North Central lead until 8:43 remained, when a tip-in by Joscar Demby and a steal and dunk by Charles Warren left the Cardinals with just a 53-52 advantage. Demby drove the lane for a dunk on Millikin's next possession to give the Big Blue their first lead of the game.

The teams traded baskets for the next three minutes. Brian Evans briefly gave the Cardinals a three-point lead (61-58) with his layup with 5:14 left, but Warren countered with an inside bucket and Colby Long sank two free throws to put Millikin back in front.

With Millikin ahead, 64-62, the Big Blue's Rodney Clark came up with a steal and fed Corey Mitchell for a dunk in the open court. Mitchell, however, was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim, giving North Central two free throws and the ball. The Cardinals took full advantage of the extra opportunity, as Raridon made both free throws and Reid Barringer knocked down a three-pointer to give the hosts a 67-66 lead.

Demby was fouled and toed the charity stripe for two free throws, making one, to tie the game at 67-67, and Evans did the same with 53 seconds to play. Once again, Millikin went inside to Demby, whose spinning layup gave the Big Blue the lead with just 32 seconds left.

Raridon drove into the lane from the right wing, sinking a running one-hander despite a hard foul, then sank the free throw. Clark's three-point shot at the buzzer was well short of the mark.

The Cardinals grabbed a 7-2 advantage during the first three minutes of play, getting the first two baskets of the contest from Barringer. Millikin pulled to within two points on three occasions midway through the opening period, with Raridon responding with a jumper on the other end each time.

Getting seven straight points from Demby, the Big Blue (7-14, 2-8 CCIW) got closer than it had been since the opening minutes, trailing by just a 33-29 count. North Central, however, held its visitors scoreless for the remainder of the half, and Barringer's three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Cardinals a 38-29 halftime advantage.

North Central could potentially have owned a much larger lead at the break if not for some uncharacteristic struggles at the free-throw line. The Cardinals made 18 trips to the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes, 13 more than Millikin, but made just 10 (55.6 percent).

Raridon was just one point short of his career high with 33 points, while Twyman finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Barringer added 10 points.

Demby totaled a team-high 26 points and Clark finished with 10 for Millikin.

The Cardinals travel to face North Park University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.