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

Dec. 20, 2024 - Using a sparkling stretch of second-half play to pull in front for good, the North Central College men's basketball team won its final game at Gregory Arena for 2024 Friday with an 86-78 defeat of Concordia University Chicago.

The Cardinals (9-2) led for most of the game but trailed, 50-49, with 14:45 to play after Concordia (4-5) made seven of its first eight shots in the second half to negate a 40-34 halftime deficit. Tyler DiSilvio made two free throws with 13:49 on the clock to put North Central in front, 51-50, then pulled up for a three-pointer on the fast break to prompt a Cougar timeout with 13:03 left.

DiSilvio's five-point rally ignited a 30-8 scoring run that saw the Cardinals connect on 12 straight shots from the floor. James Bullock banked in a three-pointer, Justin Sveiteris spun under the basket for a reverse layup, Alejandro Diaz pulled up for a jumper from the left baseline to provide the hosts a 65-58 edge.

DiSilvio's driving layup with 10:03 to play started North Central on a run of 16 straight points to close the game's decisive run. Sveiteris scored in the post again, Ethan Helwig sank a three and dialed up a jumper and Terrance Moncrief drove for a layup before Bullock closed the push by converting a layup and assisting DiSilvio on another. The Cardinals led, 79-58, with 5:20 to play.

Moncrief scored 12 of North Central's first 16 points as the Cardinals led by as many as 11 points early before Concordia scored 11 straight points to take its first lead at 24-23. The hosts faced a 29-28 deficit when Diaz turned three straight steals into six consecutive points. Diaz wound up scoring 10 straight points, sending the Cardinals into halftime in front for the sixth time in 11 games.

North Central made 16 of its first 20 shots in the second half and shot 53.6 percent (30 of 56) for the game, neutralizing the Cougars' pressing, trapping defensive scheme with 11 steals of its own and claiming a 23-17 edge in points off turnovers. 

Moncrief made 8 of 9 shots and paced the Cardinals with 19 pints, while Diaz put up 16 with five steals and four assists. DiSilvio finished with 11 points and three steals, while Bullock hit double figures for the first time as a collegian with 10 points and blocked three shots. Jacob Collicott led all scorers with 30 points on 13 of 21 shooting for the Cougars.

North Central plays an exhibition game at the NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Sunday at 2 p.m., with a live broadcast on ESPN+, followed by an eight-day hiatus before a Dec. 30 non-conference bout at Anderson University (Indiana). Click HERE for the full 2024-2025 schedule and live coverage options.

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