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

Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. (Feb. 18, 2021) - Putting together a dominant stretch of play midway through the contest and getting a career-high scoring effort from Matthew Helwig, the North Central College men's basketball team broke a close game wide open Thursday night at Tarble Arena and cruised past homestanding Carthage College, 73-53.

The Cardinals (5-3) scored the final seven points of the first half and outscored Carthage, 18-6, over the first nine minutes of the second half to pull well ahead for good. North Central shot 61.1 percent (11 of 18) from the floor in what turned out to be the game-clinching rally while limiting the hosts to 3 for 14 accuracy (21.4 percent). 

Helwig, who totaled 24 points on 9 of 14 shooting, scored the Cardinals' first six points of the evening as the visitors jumped in front early. North Central got a pair of three-pointers from Brian Johnson before Helwig connected from beyond the arc to give the Cardinals a 15-9 advantage after five minutes of play. Carthage (3-5) rallied to tie the score at 27-27 with 2:53 left in the first half, but North Central closed the period with inside baskets from James Ruzicka, Matt Smietanski and Maliq Anderson to head into halftime with a 34-27 edge.

Helwig, Smietanski and Will Clausel accounted for all of the Cardinals' scoring as the guests opened the second period with a 16-6 surge over the first seven minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 50-33. North Central was not threatened again and led by as many as 26 points down the stretch. The Cardinals protected their lead by shooting 57.7 percent (15 of 26) from the field in the second half. 

Johnson narrowly missed matching his career scoring high with 12 points, while Smietanski scored 10 and Clausel finished with nine points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Cardinals shot 51.8 percent (29 of 56) from the floor and owned a gargantuan 46-23 advantage in rebounding. Filip Bulatovic was Carthage's top scorer with 13 points.

North Central hosts Carthage in a rematch on Saturday. Tipoff at Gregory Arena is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Click HERE for live coverage options.

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