North Park opened the 2015-16 season right where it left off last year as the Vikings continued their hot streak with a 72-66 upset victory over No. 17 nationally-ranked University of Chicago Saturday night.

Winners of six of their last eight games to close out the year last season, North Park overcame a slight disadvantage on the boards as it was out-rebounded 40-31 by forcing 19 Chicago turnovers and scoring 21 points off the mistakes.

Junior Juwan Henry finished with a game-high 29 points as he connected on 10 of 17 shots, including 9 of 11 from the free throw line, while sophomore Jordan Robinson added 27 points on 11 of 21 field goals.

After a back and forth opening 10 minutes, North Park broke away from the Maroons with a 7-0 scoring run fueled by a three-pointer from sophomore Colin Lake, a steal and a basket from T.J. Cobbs and two free throws from Henry. Chicago tried to get back in the game on a lay-up from Waller Perez which cut the deficit to 26-20, but North Park closed out the final 5:39 of the half with a 15-6 spurt highlighted by back-to-back lay-ups from Robinson and Pye to take a 35-26 lead at the break.

North Park seemed to be on cruise control early in the second half as it ballooned its lead to as much as 16 points at 46-33 on a Robinson three-pointer at 14:15 mark, but Chicago wouldn't quit as the visitors methodically worked their way back into it and whittled the NP lead down to 68-66 on a Perez basket with 1:16 remaining. Two free throws from Cobbs and a steal and lay-up from the junior however sealed the victory for the Vikings.

Both Cobbs and Lake finished with six points each while Cobbs has four steals. Lake also dished four assists. Jordan Smith led Chicago with 22 points.

North Park (1-0) returns to action Thursday Nov. 19 when it travels to Angola, Indiana for a 6 p.m. game with Trine University.