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

Box Score

HANCOCK, Mich. (Nov. 27, 2018) - A strong start provided the North Central College men's basketball team all the advantage it needed on Tuesday, as the Cardinals led throughout an 83-58 victory over Finlandia University at the Paavo Nurmi Center.

North Central (4-0) scored the game's first 11 points and remained in front throughout the contest, defeating the Lions for the second straight season.

An 18-foot jumper by Connor Raridon opened the scoring, and Matt Cappelletti fed Aiden Chang for a fast-break layup before pulling up for a three-pointer of his own. Blaise Meredith drove the lane for a dunk on the break and Jack Bronec scored on a putback to cap the game-opening rally, prompting a Finlandia timeout with 14:57 left on the first-half clock. The Cardinals led by as many as 15 points before carrying a 36-28 advantage into halftime.

Leading, 49-41, midway through the second half, North Central put the game away with a 21-0 run which spanned five minutes. Mike Pollack knocked down two three-pointers on consecutive possessions to ignite the rally, which also included six free throws from Raridon and a three-point play by Bronec before Meredith capped off the surge with a fast-break layup with 5:47 to play.

The Cardinals shot 50.8 percent from the floor (32 of 63), including a 54.8 percent clip (17 of 31) in the second half while owning a 35-23 rebounding edge and committing just nine turnovers while forcing 18. Raridon led the way with 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, while Pollack put up 16 points in just 17 minutes. Cappelletti added 13 points and Bronec totaled 11. 

Jaden Janke was the top scorer for Finlandia (0-6) with 19 points.

The Cardinals host Millikin University (4-1) on Saturday in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opener for both teams. Tipoff at Gregory Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.