Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
KENOSHA, Wis. (Dec. 4, 2019) - In contention to the end despite trailing by double digits on multiple occasions, the North Central College men's basketball team was narrowly defeated in its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) contest on Wednesday, succumbing to Carthage College, 83-81, at Tarble Arena.
Behind by a 74-61 count with 5:31 to play, the 19th-ranked Cardinals (4-3) went on a 12-3 run and cut the Carthage lead to 77-73 with 2:16 to play. Facing an 82-75 deficit in the final minute, North Central got three-pointers from Matt Helwig and Aiden Chang in a 12-second span to trail by just one point at 82-81 with 26 seconds left. The Cardinals sent Carthage's Kienan Baltimore to the free-throw line, and took possession with a chance to tie or take the lead after Baltimore made one of two shots, but a pair of shots on the game's final possession were off the mark.
North Central had already wiped out a 20-point first-half deficit after the 21st-ranked Red Men (6-0) threatened to run away with the contest by pulling in front, 30-10, including a 26-4 surge over the course of seven minutes. After calling a timeout the visitors began cutting into the lead, eventually taking the lead at 39-37 after going 7 for 7 from three-point range in a five-minute stretch, four of which were knocked down by Michael Pollack. Carthage, however, scored seven unanswered points in the final 1:41 of the period to take a 44-39 advantage into halftime.
The Cardinals were defeated despite knocking down 17 of 35 three-point attempts and tying the program's single-game record for three-point shots made. Blaise Meredith finished with a team-high 17 points along with six rebounds and six assists, while Pollack and Matt Cappelletti each scored 16 points and Helwig totaled 11. Connor Raridon matched Meredith's team-high totals for rebounds and assists.
Carthage, which shot 60 percent (33 of 55) from the floor, was led by Jordon Kedrowki's 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting. Sean Johnson and Crishawn Cook each scored 14.
The Cardinals travel to face North Park University (1-4) on Saturday, with tipoff at the North Park Gymnasium scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Click HERE for live coverage options.
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