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

Box Score

WAUKESHA, Wis. (Jan. 19, 2022) - Picking up a second road win in three nights, the North Central College men's basketball team took charge down the home stretch to dispatch a hot-shooting Carroll University team, 89-81, at Van Male Arena.

The Pioneers enjoyed 55 percent accuracy from the floor and made 14 of 26 three-point shots (53.8 percent), making 10 three-pointers in the second half alone. North Central (9-5, 4-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) countered with a 12 of 19 effort (63.2 percent) and outrebounded Carroll, 36-17. The Cardinals also made 19 of its 22 free throws while the hosts went to the line just three times.

The Pioneer defense was powerless to restrain Blaise Meredith all evening long. The senior finished with a career-high 33 points on 13 of 18 shooting including six points in an 8-0 North Central run which spanned the final 2:04 of the game.

The Cardinals led by as many as 11 points before Carroll rallied and tied the score at 68-68 with 6:31 to play after two straight three-pointers from Justin Steinike. After a North Central timeout, Shea Cupples scored on a layup, then sank a three-pointer from the right wing to put the guests back in front.

The game was tied three more times, the last of which came at 81-81 with 2:04 remaining, following yet another triple by Steinike. Meredith drew a foul and sank both free throws with 1:43 left, then scored on a putback with 40 seconds to play before knocking down two more free throws with 19 seconds left. Ethan Helwig provided the final two charity tosses just before the buzzer.

The Cardinals have now won their last four games at Carroll dating back to the 2017-2018 campaign. The teams did not play each other last season. North Central topped the 80-point mark for the fifth time in the last six outings.

Matthew Helwig scored 17 points and extended his nation-leading streak of consecutive made free throws to 60. Ethan Helwig narrowly missed a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, while John Blumeyer put up a season-best 10 points and five assists. 

Justin Gruber was the leading scorer for the Pioneers (5-12, 1-7 CCIW), while Steinike scored 14, Josh Hudgens totaled 13 and Aaron Wofford put up 10.

The Cardinals complete their recent four-game road stretch Saturday, traveling to Carthage College. The Firebirds (8-7, 1-5) have been idle since a 79-76 loss at Millikin University Jan. 15. Tipoff at Tarble Arena is set for 4:00 p.m.  Click HERE for live coverage options. 

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