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

KENOSHA, Wis. (Dec. 6, 2023) - Accuracy from the perimeter was not enough to bring the North Central College men's basketball team a third straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) victory Wednesday, as the Cardinals lost by a 95-75 count to the 22nd-ranked Carthage College Firebirds at Tarble Arena. 

On a night when the Cardinals (3-5, 2-1 CCIW) connected on a season-best 13 three-pointers on 24 attempts (54.2 percent), Carthage made 32 of 56 shots from the floor and outscored North Central in the paint, 40-20, while owning a 36-9 advantage in free-throw attempts.

The Firebirds (7-1, 2-0) opened the game with an 11-4 run and led throughout. A turnaround jumper by Ethan Helwig with 12:25 on the clock closed the deficit to 15-14, but the hosts outscored North Central, 11-1, over the next five minutes to pull in front by double digits for the first time at 26-15. 

Brian Johnson and Sean Molloy knocked down three-pointers on consecutive possessions late in the half before Helwig sank a jumper in the final minute to leave the Cardinals with just a 43-40 deficit at halftime. Helwig led all scorers at halftime with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting.

North Central trailed, 60-57, following a pair of free throws by Drew Gaston before the Firebirds embarked on an 11-4 run spanning four minutes which boosted their lead to 71-60 with 9:21 on the clock. Carthage led by at least eight points the rest of the way, making 13 of 21 free throws down the stretch.

Helwig and Johnson scored 20 points each to share the team lead for the Cardinals, as Johnson netted 6 of 10 three-point attempts and scored 14 after halftime. Gaston totaled a season-high 19 points and led the visitors with eight rebounds.

AJ Johnson led the Firebirds with a game-high 24 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Julian Campbell put up 22 points and Filip Bulatovic added 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Cardinals host Illinois Wesleyan University (6-3, 2-1) Saturday at Gregory Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2023-2024 schedule and live coverage options.

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