PHOTO COURTESY:

Cover Photo - Brett Marhanka; Wheaton College

Story Images - Dr. Jeff Nelson; North Park University

WHEATON, IL - After a clutch one point win over CCIW opponent Millikin University, the North Park University Men's Basketball team took on the Wheaton College Thunder on Saturday night. 

The opening minutes of the first half seemed to promise a close game, as senior guard Colin Lake nailed a three-pointer, and North Park later took their first lead of the game on a Vegard Tangen short jumper.

However, the Thunder responded with a Trevor Gunter dunk that seemed to take the wind out of the NPU sails. Including the Gunter dunk, the Thunder went on a 12-0 run and left the visiting Vikings trailing 9-17. 

Holding strong and preparing their next burst, the men gathered themselves with a Billy Kirby layup and another three-pointer from Colin Lake to narrow the gap once more to six points.

Yet, the well-balanced Thunder offense rattled off a burst of their own, finishing off the first half 18-27 from the field and securing a 43-21 lead moving into halftime.

The second half proved to be the better of the two for the NPU offense. Unfortunately, the Thunder matched the Vikings and then some, outscoring North Park 55-38.

Newcomer Josh Washburn had the standout second half for the Vikings, tallying 11 points and swiping 3 passes. 

With this loss, the men fall to 4-8 on the year with a 1-3 record in conference.

STANDOUT PLAYERS

• New addition Josh Washburn led the scoring for the Vikings, adding all of his 11 points in the second half
• Senior Colin Lake continued his streak of double-digit scoring; now at 12 consecutive games
• Toby Marek came off the bench with 9 points, and Quinn Williams added 7

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Vikings return home on Wednesday night for a CCIW contest against Elmhurst College (9-4, 2-2). 

In their last game against Illinois Wesleyan, the Bluejays lost 75-87. Elmhurst fell to Wheaton 95-98 in 2OT on December 9th.