Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
WHEATON, Ill. (Feb. 4, 2026) - Playing in their sixth overtime contest of the season, the North Central College men's basketball team outscored Wheaton College 18-11 in overtime to claim an 81-74 victory Saturday inside King Arena and keep its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament hopes alive.
Alejandro Diaz answered a three-pointer on the Thunder's opening possession with a deep ball of his own before Wheaton jumped out to a 14-7 lead. James Bullock Jr. scored an old-fashioned three-point play and added another pair of free throws to bring the Cardinals within three, 17-14. Ethan Marlowe made back-to-back baskets to give North Central its first lead of the game, 18-17, with 6:46 to play in the first half. The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half as the Thunder held a 27-24 lead with the defensive units controlling the first 20 minutes of action.
Bullock Jr. scored the first five points of the second half with a successful trip to the free-throw line, followed by a three-pointer to put North Central back on top 29-27. Baskets from Tre Davis and Justin Sveiteris kept the Cardinals in front. A 7-2 run, highlighted by five points from Diaz, gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game, 42-37. Wheaton responded quickly with a 14-4 run to take a 51-46 edge with 7:47 left.
The Cardinals kept pace with the Thunder, clawing their way back to a 56-56 tie with 2:28 to play on a Marlowe layup. Wheaton took a five-point lead, but Bullock Jr. answered with a three-pointer to bring North Central within two. After a North Central timeout, both teams scored a basket before the Cardinal defense forced a shot-clock violation. Sean Molloy made a tough spinning layup to force the sixth overtime contest of the Cardinals' season.
Diaz opened overtime with a three-point play before Molloy scored his second basket of the game. Following a Wheaton score, Bullock Jr. buried a three-pointer to push the North Central lead to four, 71-67. Marlowe's 18th point of the night kept the Cardinals ahead by four before Molloy converted a pair of free throws to cap off the quick five-point swing and put North Central up by six, 77-71. The Thunder did not go away easily as Reid Olson made a contested three-pointer with 17 seconds left. Marlowe made a pair of free throws before capping off the victory with a dunk to seal an 81-74 win over Wheaton.
Marlowe and Bullock Jr. led the way offensively with 22 points each, followed closely by Diaz with 19. Bullock Jr. (nine rebounds) and Diaz (eight rebounds) paced the Cardinals on the glass, with Molloy dishing out seven assists. As a team, North Central shot 43.5% from the floor, including a 75% mark in overtime. From behind the arc, the Cardinals shot 35.7% and 84.6% from the charity stripe. Wheaton shot 36.5% from the field and 18.2% from three-point range. Soren Richardson led the Thunder with 22 points.
North Central looks to stay alive in the CCIW Tournament race Wednesday by visiting Carroll University. The Cardinals beat the Pioneers 82-78 in overtime at home on Jan. 21. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Van Male Fieldhouse.
