FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
WHEATON, Ill. (Jan. 29, 2011) - Utilizing a potent 1-2 scoring punch from Derek Raridon and Landon Gamble, the North Central College men's basketball team floored its rivals from Wheaton College for a second straight time and scored its sixth victory in seven games on Saturday, securing a 79-67 victory at King Arena.
The Cardinals (10-9, 6-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin), who remain second in the CCIW standings behind third-ranked Augustana, won at Wheaton for the first time since Feb. 2, 2008 behind a combined 46 points from Raridon and Gamble and 60 percent shooting accuracy from the floor (27-45) as a team during the contest. It was the second straight game during which the Cardinals made at least 60 percent of their field-goal attempts.
Wheaton led through much of the early going and owned a 15-10 advantage with 13:51 on the clock in the first half, but two straight baskets inside by Gamble ignited a 15-3 surge that gave the visitors a 25-18 lead with 7:03 before halftime. Leading, 35-28, North Central extended its advantage to double digits for the first time after a pair of jumpers by Raridon. A three-pointer by the Thunder's Tad Fisher momentarily cut into the hosts' deficit, but the Cardinals' Kevin Gillespie drilled a three-pointer in the final seconds of the period to end the half with the score resting at 42-31 in North Central's favor.
The Cardinals led by as many as 19 points early in the second period and did not see their lead threatened until 4:37 remained, when Wheaton narrowed the gap to 64-59. Raridon stepped forward and scored North Central's next six points to boost the advantage to 72-61, and the visitors made 7 of 8 free throws in the final two minutes to stave off any further comeback efforts.
Raridon scored a season-high 25 points, while Gamble was a perfect 10 of 10 shooting from the floor in putting up 21. Gamble's accuracy was among the top single-game efforts in North Central's history, topped only by Anthony Simmons making 11 of 11 shots, also against Wheaton, on Feb. 5, 2005. Gillespie tacked on 12 points, and Gamble also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while Brian Evans handed out five assists.
The Thunder (13-6, 4-4 CCIW) were paced by Andrew Jahns' 22 points, while Tim McCrary put up 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
North Central hosts Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday. Tipoff at Gregory Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
