Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Nov. 12, 2025 - Opening the 2025-26 season, the North Central College men's basketball team fell to Aurora University in a tightly contested game, 65-55, on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena. 

Ethan Marlowe kicked off the game with a jumper for his first points in a Cardinal uniform. The North Central defense held the Spartans scoreless for over six minutes of action as back-to-back jumpers from Alejandro Diaz put the Cardinals up 6-0 early on. A three-pointer from Tyler Swierczek pushed the lead to eight before the Spartans put together an 8-0 run to even the contest at 13-13 with 8:47 to go in the first half. 

Two straight three-pointers from Swierczek put the Cardinals back in front, 22-17, before a jumper from Juan Madrigal gave Aurora a one-point lead with 3:19. The teams traded leads as the Spartans held a slight 28-26 advantage at halftime.

Swierczek began the second half with a fastbreak layup off an assist from Marlow to knot the score at 28-28. After Aurora re-took a three-point lead, Tyler Di Silvio buried a three-pointer to tie the contest at 31-31. The Spartans used an 8-2 run to take a seven-point lead, just five minutes into the second half. North Central responded with a jumper from Tre Davis and a deep ball by Swierczek to bring themselves within a point, 41-40. The Spartans answered with a run of their own to take a nine-point lead at the halfway point in the second half. 

Both teams knocked down baskets as two layups from Diaz made the score a two-possession game with 5:00 on the clock, 56-51, forcing an Aurora timeout. The Cardinals could not make a dent in the Spartan lead the rest of the way as Aurora held on for a 65-55 victory.

Swierczek led all scorers with 23 points, including five made three-pointers. Diaz added 11 points with Di Silvio at eight. Deiaz dished out five assists with Di Silvio and Marlowe grabbing six rebounds each. As a team, the Cardinals shot 36.7% from the floor and 25.0% from beyond the arc. The Spartans were led by Gevon Grant, who scored 19 points, including 10-of-17 shooting from the free throw line. Aurora shot 40.0% from the field and 28.6% from three.

North Central returns to play on Nov. 19 by hosting No. 18 University of Wisconsin-Platteville at 7 p.m. Last year's contest in Platteville, Wis. went to overtime with the Pioneers prevailing, 76-69.