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

Dec. 14, 2024 - Getting a game-winning shot from graduate senior Ethan Helwig for the second time in three nights, the North Central College men's basketball team completed a second-half comeback in dramatic fashion with a 68-66 conquest of Carroll University at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (8-2, 2-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) negated a double-digit halftime deficit with their veterans leading the way. With the score tied for the 13th time at 66-66 and time winding down, the Cardinals went to Helwig in the high post. His 10-foot turnaround shot bounced high off the rim and through the net with 3.0 seconds to play, and a last-second heave by the Pioneers was off the mark.

Helwig led all scorers with 20 points while grabbing 11 rebounds to post his first double-double of the season and the seventh of his collegiate career. Terrance Moncrief scored 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting while also contributing six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Helwig and Moncrief each scored 14 points in the second half. 

The Cardinals trailed throughout the first half, connecting on just three of their first 15 shots from the floor to fall behind, 20-7, after nine minutes of play. Carroll (2-7, 0-3 CCIW) saw its lead grow as large as 14 points before heading into halftime with a 37-25 advantage.

North Central opened the second half with a vastly improved nine-minute stretch, using defense to fuel its offense as the Cardinals rallied to tie the score, 43-43, with 11:40 to play. Helwig scored seven points in the 18-6 run, which was capped off by a steal and fast-break three-pointer by Tyler DiSilvio.

The score was tied 10 more times before standing deadlocked at 64-64 with one minute to play. Helwig pulled up for a jumper from 18 feet away to nudge the Cardinals in front, 66-64, with 37 seconds to go before Carroll's Jacob Naber was fouled in the post and made both free throws to knot the score with 15 seconds to play.

North Central's Dec. 21 home game against Concordia University Chicago has been rescheduled to Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. to accommodate the NCAA Division III Football Championship semifinal being played on campus Dec. 21. Click HERE for the full 2024-2025 schedule and live coverage options.

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