Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Jan. 14, 2026) - In their ninth straight game decided by single-digits, the North Central College men's basketball team came out on the wrong side of a high-scoring College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin contest as Augustana College held on for a 98-93 win Wednesday night inside the Carver Center.
Sean Molloy sank a three pointer from Alejandro Diaz to open the game for the Cardinals. Back-to-back layups from James Bullock Jr. put the visitors ahead, 7-3 in the early going. Two straight Seth Cheney deep balls extended the North Central lead to eight, 15-7, less than four minutes into the contest. After a third three pointer from Cheney, Tyler Surin added his second basket of the night to keep the Cardinals in front, 22-17. The Vikings battled back to knot the score at 24-24 before a Diaz three ball put North Central back in the lead, 29-26 midway through the first half.
The high-scoring affair continued as the teams traded baskets with Augustana taking their first lead of the night, 36-35 with 5:51 on the clock. The hosts used a 13-1 run to take a 45-36 advantage. Molly and Cheney halted the Vikings' run as a fourth three-pointer that turned into a four-point play by the freshman brought North Central within six, 47-41. An Ethan Marlowe deep ball was answered in the final seconds of the first half by the Vikings who held a 55-47 lead at the break.
Surin's successful trip to the charity stripe followed by a Molloy layup kept the Cardinals close, 57-53, three minutes into the second half. Those free throws sparked a 21-7 run for North Central, highlighted by nine points from Bullock Jr. With a 70-64 lead, the Cardinals kept their foot on the gas as a Marlowe three pointer pushed the advantage to 10, 82-72 with 8:50 left to play.
Augustana responded with a 12-2 rally to even the contest at 84-84. The teams traded baskets as a Marlowe layup kept the tie in tact at 90-90. After the Vikings took a four-point advantage, Molloy converted an old-fashioned three point play to bring North Central within one, 94-93. Augustana made a pair of free throws with 24-seconds left to go. The Vikings decided to foul up by three, as Molloy missed the front end of a one-and-one before Augustana closed out the game at the free throw line to take a 98-93 victory.
The Cardinals scored a season-high 93 points, led by Cheney who posted a career-best 23 points with six three pointers made. Bullock Jr. recorded the first double-double of this career with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Surin (15 points), Marlowe (14), Diaz (13) and Molloy (10) each scored in double figures as well for North Central. As a team, the Cardinals shot a season-best 51.5% from the field. The Vikings answered with a 57.8% mark from the floor, led by Cam Atkinson with 24 points.
North Central returns home to Naperville on Wed., Jan. 21, hosting Carroll University for a 7 p.m. tipoff inside Gregory Arena. The Cardinals have beaten the Pioneers in 13 straight games. dating back to 2018.
