PICTURED: ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM SELECTION BILLY KIRBY

LEXINGTON, KY - Capping off their participation in the Don Lane Classic, the North Park University Men's Basketball team took on the undefeated (8-0) Emory & Henry Wasps. 

Opening the North Park scoring with a bang, Jack Gurvey marked a three-pointer a minute and a half into play. After a few Emory & Henry baskets, North Park's leading scorer Colin Lake rolled in the next seven points and brought the Vikings within four. Billy Kirby answered the bell on the very next North Park possession, draining a three-pointer to narrow the deficit to 13-14. 

When the Vikings took the lead on a Matt Mohr layup, the Wasps immediately countered with a layup and three-pointer to recapture the lead 19-15. 

Junior Billy Kirby was the catalyst for North Park in the first half of play. He had 13 points and a pair of assists as he went 5-6 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc. Freshman Matt Mohr also added four points off the bench and pulled down two rebounds.

Unfortunately, the Vikings trailed by twelve going into the first half of play.

In the early minutes of the first half, three-pointers from Colin Lake and Jack Gurvey pulled the Vikings within six points of their opponent. However, the Emory & Henry offense seemed to stay just outside of the North Park grasp through a large chunk of the game. 

This luck seemingly ran out fo the Wasps when they missed shots in back-to-back possessions while Billy Kirby and Colin Lake steadily drained long-range three-pointers. With the score holding fast a 66-71 in favor of Emory & Henry, the Vikings looked to make one final push.

With 18 seconds left in the game, Colin Lake found nothing but the bottom of the net on a three-pointer from the top-right side of the arc. Forcing a jump ball on an Emory & Henry inbounds pass, the Vikings had one more chance to score. Unfortunately, the final heave from Colin Lake fell short and the Vikings lost to the Wasps 74-69.

Junior Billy Kirby was selected to the Don Lane Classic All-Tournament team for his performances in both games. Billy combined for 47 total points; going 19-27 from the field, 8-12 beyond the arc and added 7 assists and 6 boards in his display of offensive prowess.

Concluding competition for 2017, the Vikings (3-7) will now rest up in preparation for their next game against CCIW opponent Millikin University. They will resume their CCIW schedule against the Big Blue in a home contest on January 3rd.

STANDOUT VIKINGS

• Colin Lake and Billy Kirby had 25 points apiece and were a combined 11-21 from beyond the arc
• Freshman Matt Szuba had 7 assists and added 5 rebounds
• Matt Mohr came off the bench with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists