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

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Feb. 1, 2025) - Able to rally at the end of regulation play to force overtime, the North Central College men's basketball team was cut down in its final push in the extra session Saturday as the Cardinals withstood an 80-76 loss to Augustana College at the Carver Center.

Playing into overtime for the third time in seven games, North Central (11-9, 4-7 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) was denied a second straight win and a season sweep of the Vikings, who took the lead for good after outscoring the Cardinals, 18-2, over a six-minute stretch spanning the first and second periods.

For the second straight outing, North Central got a prolific first-half scoring effort from Tyler Swierczek, who followed Wednesday's season-high 20-point game at Millikin University by scoring 20 of a game-high 23 points in the first period Saturday. Swierczek's three-pointer with 13:47 left in the first half broe a 10-10 tie and ignited a 9-0 run. 

The Cardinals owned a 35-26 advantage with 4:34 to play before Augustana (12-8, 5-6 CCIW) strung together nine straight points to pull in front, 36-35, on Ray Maurchie's dunk in the final minute. North Central still went into halftime with a one-point advantage, however, as Justin Sveiteris scored on a putback just before the buzzer. 

As the second half began, Augustana took charge quickly with eight points in a 63-second span and pulled ahead, 44-37. The Vikings led by as many as six points before calling for a timeout with 2:09 to play while leading, 65-61. Coming out of the break, North Central's Drew Gaston buried a three-pointer to slash the deficit to 65-64. 

Tyler Knuth converted a three-point play and Staishaun Kelley made one of two free throws to stake the hosts to a 69-64 advantage with under a minute left. Gaston drew a foul and made both free throws with 38 seconds left, and Ethan Helwig rebounded a missed Viking jump shot before pulling up for a three-pointer that dropped through the net with five seconds left, tying the score at 69-69.

Augustana opened the overtime period with an inside basket by Evan Ambrose and a second-chance bucket by Dani Romero, though Helwig's 200th career three-pointer left the Cardinals with just a 73-72 deficit with 2:59 left. The Vikings' Chase Larsen responded with a triple on the next possession, and Colton Gillingham scored with 1:16 left to put the hosts ahead, 78-72. 

Gaston made two more free throws and Tyler DiSilvio drove for a layup to bring the Cardinals within two points at 78-76 with 15 seconds to go. Knuth was fouled to stop the clock and made both free throws to put the contest out of reach.

Swierczek made 9 of 14 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 from long range while leading North Central with seven rebounds. Gaston totaled 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Terrance Moncrief put up 15 points and five assists. Knuth paced the Vikings with 18 points.

The Cardinals play the first of three straight home games Saturday, hosting No. 3-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (18-2, 10-1) at 7:00 p.m. at Gregory Arena. Click HERE for the full 2024-2025 schedule and live coverage options.

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