FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
KENOSHA, Wis. (Jan. 28, 2012) - The North Central College men's basketball team assumed sole control of first place in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin standings on Saturday, emerging late to post a 77-74 overtime victory over Carthage College at Tarble Arena.
The Cardinals (13-6, 7-1 CCIW) now own the top spot in the CCIW, with Wheaton College and Illinois Wesleyan University one game back.
Carthage opened the game with an 8-2 run, and the Red Men owned a 15-6 lead before seven points from CJ Goldthree and a layup by Aaron Tiknis leveled the score at 15-15. With the score tied at 17-17, Pat Rourke knocked down a three-pointer and Goldthree converted a layup to give the Cardinals a 22-17 edge with 6:32 left before halftime. Carthage's Tyler Pierce converted a three-pointer to narrow the gap to 22-20, but Vince Kmiec followed with a layup and three-pointer and North Central wound up heading into halftime wth a 31-26 lead.
The Cardinals led by as many as 10 points before the Red Men fought back and took a 55-54 lead on Mitch Thompson's putback with 5:56 left. Landon Gamble sank two free throws to give North Central a brief advantage, but Malcom Kelly converted a layup and Max Cary made a three-pointer to put Carthage in front with 4:12 left.
Gamble followed with a three-point play and Goldthree and Tiknis were able to sink layups before Mitch Thomspon knocked down a layup and a layup by Malcom Kelly gave Carthage the lead with 1:43 left. The Cardinals were able to tie the score with 10 seconds left in regulation, as Derek Raridon's jumper sent the contest into overtime.
The contest was tied at at 71-71 when Tiknis was fouled shooting a three-pointer and converted two of three free throws to put the visitors in front. Goldthree tacked on two more free charity shots before Carthage's Donte Logan canned a three-pointer to narrow the gap to 75-74 with 45 seconds left. Gamble missed two free throws, but Raridon grabbed an offensive rebound to give North Central an extra possession and Kevin Gillespie sank two free throws with 10 seconds left to help preserve the win, as Kelly's three-pointer in the final seconds fell short.
Gamble led North Central with 21 points and eght rebounds, while Goldthree scored 17 points and Raridon added 14. Kelly finished with 32 points and eight rebounds for the Red Men (9-10, 3-5 CCIW).
The Cardinals travel to Elmhurst College (10-9, 4-4) on Tuesday, with tipoff at R. A. Faganel Hall scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
