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

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (Mar. 2, 2018) - The North Central College men's basketball team saw the 2017-2018 season come to a close Friday evening at Saint John's University's Sexton Arena, as the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point opened up a large early lead and never relented, defeating the Cardinals, 72-55, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship.

The Cardinals saw the contest get away midway through the opening period, as Stevens Point (20-8) held them to just five points in a nine-minute span, scoring 25 points of its own in the process to turn a slim 11-10 edge to a commanding 36-15 advantage near the end of the first half. The Pointers shot 53.6 percent (15 of 28) in the opening 20 minutes, while North Central was plagued by nine turnovers.

After trailing by as many as 22 points early in the second period, the Cardinals chipped away at the lead and eventually closed the gap to 53-43 after Connor Raridon sank four free throws on two separate trips to the line. Stevens Point, however, traded baskets with North Central for the next three minutes before putting the contest away. 

Raridon led all scorers with 17 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and handing out four assists. Matt Cappelletti put up 13 points and a game-high eight boards and Mike Pollack and Alex Sorenson each totaled nine points.

Drew Fredrickson scored 15 points to lead the Pointers, who also got 14 from Brett Tauber and 10 from Canon O'Heron.

North Central finishes the campaign with an overall record of 19-9, establishing new single-season school records for three-point shots made (244) and assists (521).