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

Feb. 12, 2025 - Coming tantalizingly close to a third straight home victory, the North Central College men's basketball team saw a second-half lead dissipate in the final minutes and lost a 73-71 decision Wednesday to Carthage College. 

The Cardinals (13-10, 6-8 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) were attempting to complete a perfect three-game run against the CCIW's top teams. North Central had beaten Illinois Wesleyan University (72-64) and North Park University (86-81) in its two previous outings. Carthage (17-5, 11-2 CCIW) remains in first place in the CCIW standings while the Cardinals occupy the sixth and final CCIW Tournament spot with two games to play.

The hosts led most of the evening after driving the lane for four straight inside baskets to take an 8-0 lead after three minutes of play. The Firebirds worked their way back to a 20-20 tie following Griffin Daun's three-point play with six minutes on the clock. Ethan Helwig broke the tie with a three-pointer, and the Cardinals stayed in front until the final minute of the half.

Ryan Johnson and Colton Sigel scored inside on consecutive trips down the floor to put the Firebirds in front for the first time, 30-29, with 57 seconds to go. Tyler DiSilvio was fouled and made both free throws for a 31-30 Cardinal lead, but was answered at the other end by Johnson with just five seconds to play. Terrance Moncrief was able to hoist a three-point attempt just before the buzzer sounded, making the shot to send the hosts into halftime ahead, 34-32.

The Cardinals prevented Carthage from making a field goal for the first five minutes of the second half, pulling ahead by as many as eight points before AJ Williams' three-pointer got the Firebirds' offense untracked with 14:35 to play and narrow North Central's lead to 45-40. A three-point play by Johnson brought the visitors level at 47-47, though two Tyeler Swierczek free throws and a driving layup by Moncrief quickly nudged the hosts back in front with 11:32 left.

Swierczek's floating jumper in the lane left the Cardinals in front, 59-54, with 8:24 to play. Daun sank a three-pointer at the other end and went on to score eight points in an 11-0 Carthage run that gave their Firebirds their largest lead at 65-59 with 4:59 to play. Drew Gaston knocked down a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to cut into the deficit before tying the score at 67-67 on Swierczek's triple.

Gaston sank a short jumper to give North Central a 69-67 edge with 2:31 to play, though Johnson made two free throws at the other end to level the score once again. Two Cardinal possessions came up empty before a three-point play by Johnson gave the Firebirds a 72-69 edge with 1:27 left. 

With the visitors defending against a game-tying three-point attempt, Moncrief drove the lane for a layup with 7.3 seconds to play. North Central fouled Johnson to stop the clock, and the sophomore made one of two shots. On the run and amid contact, Gaston's last-second shot attempt was off the mark.

Moncrief made 9 of 14 shots from the floor and led the Cardinals with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Swierczek finished with 15 points and Gaston scored 14, while DiSilvio turned in three blocked shots and two steals. Johnson paced Carthage with 22 points and nine boards.

North Central is idle until Wednesday, Feb. 19, when the Cardinals travel to face Carroll University (7-15, 3-10). Tipoff at Van Male Fieldhouse is set for 7:00 p.m.

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