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

Box Score

Jan. 29, 2022 - Unable to sustain a lightning-fast start, the North Central College men's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak disrupted Saturday with a 75-71 setback against the Wheaton College Thunder at Gregory Arena.

A 15-0 run early in the first half including four three-pointers by Matthew Helwig and another by Ethan Helwig staked the hosts to a 17-3 lead after just six minutes of play. Wheaton got itself back into contention by holding the Cardinals scoreless for the final 4:40 of the first half and scoring the final 14 points of the period. Nyameye Adom's three-pointer in the final minute gave the Thunder a 32-29 advantage at halftime. 

Wheaton owned a 53-42 lead with 10:51 on the clock before the Cardinals (12-6, 7-3 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) began a run of 12 straight points which started with a trio of made free throws by Blaise Meredith. North Central drove the lane for four straight buckets, two each by Ethan Helwig and Shea Cupples, and took the lead at 54-53 after Cupples' three-point play with 8:18 left.

The Thunder (16-4, 8-3 CCIW) pulled back in front, 58-54, but a layup by Meredith and two free throws by Ethan Helwig in a span of 34 seconds knotted the score at 58-58 with 6:44 left. Matthew Helwig's two charity tosses gave the hosts a brief 62-60 lead with 4:47 left, but North Central then endured a stretch of nearly four minutes without a field goal. 

The Cardinals missed five straight shots and 3 of 4 free throws and fell behind, 68-63, before Ethan Helwig's three-pointer kept North Central in the game with just under a minute to play. A three-pointer by Tyson Cruikshank and four straight free throws by Adom in the final 38 seconds helped the Thunder put the game out of reach.

Matthew Helwig paced North Central with 21 points, including a 6 for 10 effort from three-point range, while also totaling 11 rebounds and five assists. Ethan Helwig put up 16 points, six rebounds and five assists and Meredith contributed 13 points and six boards.

Adom led all scorers with 26 points while Cruikshank (14 points, 10 rebounds and Cade Alioth (11 points, 11 rebounds) both turned in double-doubles. 

The Cardinals return to action Monday, hosting North Park University (8-9, 3-6). Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

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