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

Feb. 4, 2023 - Stricken by an ill-timed bout of cold shooting, the North Central College men's basketball team was defeated, 72-61, by Elmhurst University Saturday at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (11-10, 6-7 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) owned a 34-31 lead at halftime but struggled to find their rhythm in the final 20 minutes as Elmhurst salvaged a split of the teams' two meetings this season.

North Central needed nearly seven minutes to tally its first points of the second period, missing its first 13 field-goal attempts. The Bluejays scored 12 straight points to take a 43-34 lead before Nick Smoldt's three-pointer with 13:08 to play ended the drought.

The hosts closed the gap to 49-48 following a John Blumeyer three-pointer and trailed by a 52-50 count after Matt Helwig's steal and layup with 8:55 left. From there, however, the Cardinals endured a stretch of more than seven minutes without a field goal, and Elmhurst (15-6, 7-5 CCIW) went on a 12-4 run to close out the win.

Mitch Lewis led the Cardinals in scoring with 20 points, 18 of which came in the first half, and his four blocked shots are the most by any North Central player in a game this season. Helwig finished with 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds and Blumeyer and Shea Cupples each scored 11 points. 

The Cardinals travel to face No. 8-ranked Wheaton College Wednesday. The Thunder are 19-3 (11-2) following an 84-73 win over Millikin University. Tipoff at King Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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