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

Jan. 25, 2025 - Heading into overtime for the fourth occasion this season, the North Central College men's basketball team was overtaken in the final seconds of Saturday's College Conferece of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) contest at Gregory Arena, 77-73, by Elmhurst University.

The Cardinals (10-8, 3-6 CCIW) were handed a fourth consecutive loss despite leading early in the extra session following two straight baskets by Ethan Helwig. An 8-2 Elmhurst run put the visitors ahead, 71-67, with 1:55 to play before a pair of free throws by Alejandro Diaz and a layup in transition by Terrance Moncrief left the score tied at 71-71 with 1:03 on the clock.

The Bluejays' Dominic Trelenberg pulled up for two from the free-throw line for a 73-71 lead with 15.1 seconds left, but Elmhurst's Jaiden Malichi was called for a foul on the play. Helwig made two free throws to tie the score once again at 73-73.

Elmhurst (8-10, 4-5) got the game-winnig bucket from Vinnie Adjahoungbeta, who drove the lane and dropped a high-arching shot through the basket with 2.8 seconds to play. North Central's inbound pass went out of play, sealing the win for the Bluejays.

The Cardinals led by as many as eight points early in the second half as Diaz scored all of North Central's points in a 7-2 run. Elmhurst scored nine straight to pull in front, 48-45, but a turnaround jumper by Sean Molloy, a layup by Tyler Swierczek and a three-point play by Moncrief lifted the hosts to a 54-48 edge with 8:51 left in regulation.

The guests responded with a 7-0 surge to go in front, 55-54, before Diaz's three-pointer wrestled the lead back at 57-55. The score was tied three more times and stood level at 61-61 when both teams went scoreless for the final 2:05 of regulation play. 

Diaz finished with a season-high 19 points to lead the Cardinals, making 7 of 11 shots from the floor. Moncrief put up 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting, while Swierczek finished with 12 and Helwig scored 10. James Bullock totaled five rebounds and three blocked shots. Elmhurst's Dominic Trelenberg led all scorers with 20 points.

The Cardinals travel to the Griswold Center in Decatur Wednesday to face Millikin University. The Big Blue are 10-8 (4-5) following a 69-61 loss to North Park University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024-2025 schedule and live coverage options.

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