Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
WAUKESHA, Wis. (Nov. 11, 2022) - Arriving for the season's first work date prepared to execute from the opening tipoff, the North Central College men's basketball team used a pair of extended scoring runs to subdue the University of Dubuque Spartans, 81-70, Friday in the first round of the Carroll University Tip-Off Classic.
The Cardinals connected on 13 of 25 three-point shots (52.0 percent) and led nearly the entire way, taking control for good after opening the second period with a 16-4 scoring run and securing a win in Anthony Figueroa's first game as North Central's head coach.
Trailing, 12-10, after five minutes of play, the Cardinals pulled in front with a three-pointer by Matt Helwig. Terrance Moncrief and Nick Smoldt both converted layups before Helwig hit again from deep to put North Central in front, 20-14, with 12:17 on the clock.
Ethan Helwig and Brian Johnson hit three-pointers within 41 seconds of one another and Shea Cupples added a pair of threes to keep the Cardinals ahead of Dubuque, which won the American Rivers Conference (ARC) and advanced to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship last season. Johnson and John Blumeyer closed the first period with two more from beyond the arc as North Central shot 52.9 percent (9 of 17) from long range in the opening 20 minutes. The Cardinals carried a 39-34 advantage into halftime.
Matt Helwig effectively ended the contest soon after play resumed, scoring 12 points in a 16-4 Cardinal scoring surge which spanned just less than four minutes. The charge pushed North Central's lead to 55-38, and the advantage never fell below eight points the rest of the way.
Matt Helwig led all scorers with 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting (5 of 8 from three-point range, while Brian Johnson and Shea Cupples each scored 15. Johnson grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and Cupples led the Cardinals in assists (5).
Sam Kilburg paced Dubuque with 15 points, while Jaylin McCants put up 13, Bryce Prochaska 12 and Brock Simon 11.
The Cardinals take on Whitman College (Washington) in the second game of the Classic Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
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