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

Jan. 14, 2023 - Turning a closely-contested affair into an overwhelming mismatch in a six-minute stretch of the second half, the North Central College men's basketball team improved to 4-3 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play Saturday with a 72-48 rout of Millikin University at Gregory Arena.

The teams headed into halftime tied, 28-28, after a first period which featured five ties and three lead changes. Millikin (8-9, 1-7 CCIW) scored the opening basket of the second half before a three-pointer by Shea Cupples nudged the Cardinals in front, 31-30. Matt Helwig followed with a spinning jumper off the backboard and a putback, then pulled up for a three-pointer from the right wing to give the hosts a 38-30 advantage and prompt a Big Blue timeout with 17:02 on the clock.

Cupples sank two free throws, John Blumeyer drove for a layup on the fast break and Nick Smoldt fed Jeff Hemmelgarn for a dunk which prompted another Millikin timeout with 13:35 to play. Once play resumed, Helwig drove end-to-end for a layup to give the hosts a 46-30 advantage. North Central made 7 of 12 shots from the floor during the rally while the Big Blue went 0 for 7 with four turnovers.

Millikin strung together seven straight points, but the Cardinals (9-6 overall) countered with a 12-2 surge which yielded a 58-39 lead with 6:29 left. North Central shot 63 percent (17 of 27) after halftime and owned a 36-21 rebounding advantage. Cupples led all scorers with 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting, while Matt Helwig totaled 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals and Ethan Helwig finished with 10 points. Junior Jeff Hemmelgarn turned in eight points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in a career-high 12 minutes.

Millikin was led in scoring by JT Welch's 16 points. North Central has now won four straight meetings with the Big Blue.

The Cardinals travel to face Carthage College (12-2, 5-1) Wednesday. Tipoff at Tarble Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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