FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
Jan. 8, 2014 - After a promising showing in its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) contest on Saturday, the North Central College men's basketball team struggled to get untracked on Wednesday against Millikin University, losing a 63-58 decision at Gregory Arena to see its eight-game winning streak against the Big Blue snapped.
The Cardinals (8-5, 1-1 CCIW) got Millikin's post players in foul trouble early and owned a hefty 43-24 rebounding advantage, but were unable to take advantage of the extra offensive opportunities. North Central shot just 39.5 percent (19-50) from the floor, missing several attempts near the basket, and trailed for the final 33 minutes of the contest.
Millikin, meanwhile, did the bulk of its damage from the perimter, as starting guards TJ Griffin, Tommy Pilackas and Tives Gardner scored 50 of the team's 63 points. Griffin led the way with 19 points, including a 5 for 8 effort from three-point range, while Pilackas scored 17 and Gardner tallied 14. The Big Blue shot 52.9 percent (9-17) from beyond the arc in the game.
The first half saw six ties and 12 lead changes in the first 13 minutes. The Cardinals led, 23-22, with 7:03 on the clock before hitting a dry spell, missing five of their next six shots while committing four turnovers in the next six minutes. Millikin (7-6, 1-1) took advantage and pulled ahead, 34-25, before North Central closed the half with a layup from Vince Kmiec and two free throws by Jack Burchett to cut the deficit to five points at halftime.
North Central closed to within two points on three occasions early in the second period, but the Big Blue followed with a 14-4 run, capped off by three-pointers from Griffin and Gardner, to take their largest lead at 54-42 with 10:50 to play. The Cardinals fought back, limiting Millikin to a single point in a four-minute stretch late in the game, to cut the lead to 60-58 after Kmiec's three-pointer with 1:14 on the clock.
The hosts came up empty on their final four offensive possessions, however, and Pilackas sealed the win with a layup with 25 seconds left.
Burchett scored a team-high 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for North Central. Landon Gamble, held scoreless in the first half, came through with 14 second-half points and also recorded 13 rebounds.
The Cardinals travel to face Carthage College (8-5, 1-1) on Saturday. Tipoff at Tarble Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. Links to live video, audio and in-game statistics can be found by clicking HERE.
