Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score
WHEATON, Ill. (Jan. 15, 2022) - A game punctuated by second-half scoring runs was undecided until the final seconds Saturday at Wheaton College's King Arena, as the North Central College men's basketball team was edged out by the 10th-ranked Thunder, 83-79.
Trailing by just a 38-35 count at halftime, the Cardinals (7-5, 2-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) fell victim to a 14-4 Wheaton scoring run which left the visitors facing a 52-39 deficit with 16:22 to play. Over the next six minutes, North Central locked in defensively and held the hosts to 1 for 7 shooting with three turnovers while outscoring the Thunder, 16-2, getting seven points from Matthew Helwig. A second-chance layup by Shea Cupples gave the Cardinals a 55-54 lead with 9:50 on the clock and prompted a Wheaton timeout.
The Thunder (13-3, 5-2 CCIW) came out of the stoppage with a three-pointer from Tyson Cruikshank, which was answered by Helwig's 17-foot jumper on the other end. Wheaton's Cade Alioth scored in the paint to put the home team in front once again, and again Helwig answered off a pass from Blaise Meredith to tie the score at 59-59.
Wheaton guard Nyameye Adom knocked down a three-pointer and an inside jumper in succession to put the Thunder in front, 64-59, with 6:39 to play. The Cardinals were unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
Helwig led all scorers with 36 points on 10 of 21 shooting from the floor and a perfect 14 of 14 effort at the free-throw line in addition to a team-best nine rebounds. It is Helwig's sixth scoring output of 30 points or more this season and he has made his last 46 shots from the charity stripe. Ethan Helwig put up 18 points and Meredith finished with 12 to leave him with 994 points in his collegiate career.
Adom led four Wheaton double-figure scorers with 24 points, while Cruikshank totaled 19, Eli Considine scored 16 and Alioth added 10 with a game-high 12 rebounds.
North Central returns to the court Monday at Augustana College. The Vikings dropped to 8-7 overall (3-3 CCIW) Saturday with an 83-78 loss to No. 3-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University. Tipoff at the Carver Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Click HERE for live coverage options.
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