Photo credit: Paige Wilcox

CHICAGO, Ill. -- In its 2019-20 home opener, the North Park University men's basketball team was edged by the Dominican University Stars, 64-61, inside the North Park Gym on Wednesday.  

In the first half, junior guard Toby Marek scored six of the first eight points making the score 8-5 Vikings.  After a jumper by the Stars, junior forward Matt Szuba drained a three-pointer. growing the Viking lead to 11-7.  After the Stars scored the next nine points, freshman Jacquan Binion marked a three-pointer, closing the gap to 16-14 Stars. At 18-20 Stars, freshman Karl Polk Jr. made a jumper in transition, tying the game at 20. 

Tied at 24, the Vikings went on a 6-2 run, highlighted by a pair of layups from Jacquan Binion, making the score 32-26 Vikings.  That score would hold true going into the half.  Jacquan Binion led the Vikings with nine points while Polk Jr. and Marek followed with eight points.  Szuba led the Vikings grabbing seven rebounds.  

Halftime: North Park 32, Dominican 26 

At the start of the second half, the Stars marked the first four points until junior Lawrence Pointer made a three-point basket making the score 35-30 Vikings.  After the Stars took the lead notching the next six points, the Vikings' sophomore guard Izaiah Sanders made a jumper, putting the Vikings back on top at 37-36.  The Vikings marked seven of the next 11 points, clinging to a four-point lead.  However, the Stars struck back tallying eight of the next 10 points to go up 48-46.

With the score moving to 54-51 in the Stars' favor, Binion scored the next five points for the Vikings. After Dominican extended its lead, Polk Jr. and Marek each marked free throws, tying the score at 59.  In the ensuing possession, the Stars tallied an and-one layup, converting on the free throw to go up 62-59. Following successful free throws for both teams, a last-second shot would glance off the rim for the Vikings as the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the home opener.

Final: Dominican 64, North Park 61

Quick Hits: 

• Jacquan Binion led the Vikings with 18 points
• Polk Jr. and Marek followed with 12 points each
• Szuba grabbed 12 rebounds and junior forward Matt Mohr followed with nine

What's Next?

The Vikings (0-2) travel to the Moody Bible Institute to play Fontbonne University on Friday, November 22 in the Moody Bible Tournament.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

--NPU--