Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
NAPERVILLE, ILL. (Dec. 9, 2023) - The North Central College men's basketball team played a tight first half against Illinois Wesleyan University before the Titans pulled away to win the contest 66-43.
 
Illinois Wesleyan opened up the game with Harrison Wilmsen making a layup in the paint. North Central did not trail for long before Ethan Helwig knocked down a three-pointer. 
 
The Titans tied the game up at 5-5 when Nick Smoldt took his first shot of the night and made his three-pointer to give North Central the lead once again. However, Illinois Wesleyan completed a ten-point run to lead the game 15-10.
 
North Central was able to cut the Titans lead to three points but was never able to completely catch up. The half ended with the Titans knocking down a free throw and increasing their lead to 27-20.
 
In the second half, it was the Cardinals who opened up the scoring with Smoldts knocking down a jumper. With back and forth points between the two teams, Illinois Wesleyan continued to lead 35-26.
 
Tyler Swierczek made a jump shot and a free throw to make the game 35-29. A jump shot from Drew Gaston put the Cardinals within four points of the Titans.
 
However, the visitors went on a seven-point run and the Cardinals were not able to close the gap. After being outscored 16-8, the clock ran down, and Illinois Wesleyan sealed the deal with a jump shot inside the paint. The Titans won the game with the final score of 66-43.
 
Smoldts led the Cardinals with 13 points. Smoldts and Ethan Helwig both had seven rebounds throughout the game. Brian Johnson tallied two assists.
 
North Central will host the Pioneers of University of Wisconsin-Platteville Wednesday, Dec. 10. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.
 
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