Box Score CHICAGO, Ill. --The North Park University men's basketball team traveled to the south side of Chicago on Wednesday night to scrimmage Division I Chicago State University. The Vikings put up a good fight before falling by a score of 79-66.
At the start of the first half, the Cougars tallied 10 of the first 12 points until junior forward Matt Szuba made a three-pointer making the score 10-5.
With the score moving to 16-9, junior guard Lawrence Pointer hit a three-pointer to pull the Vikings within four at 16-12. The Cougars would stretch their lead to 11 but jumpers by Pointer and Szuba would put the Vikings within striking distance at 32-25.
North Park finished the first half outscoring the Cougars 9-8, highlighted by a three from Pointer, to trail, 40-34, at the half. Pointer led the Vikings with eight points and Szuba followed with seven as the Vikings shot 53% from the field and 40% from the three-point line.
Halftime: Chicago State 40, North Park 34
North Park got off to a good start in the second half, cutting the Cougar lead to 40-38 after junior guards Toby Marek and Izaiah Sander each scored. After the Cougars converted on three free throws, freshman guard Jacquan Binion sent in a jumper, cutting the lead to 43-40.
The Cougars extended their lead on a 7-2 run before Szuba made a jumper and after Binion buried a three to cut the lead to three points, the Cougars countered with a three of their own to hold a two-possession lead.
Unfortunately, despite playing right on the heels of the Division I opponent through most of the game, the Vikings fell to the Cougars, 79-66.
Final: Chicago State 79, North Park 66
Quick Hits:
- Pointer set a new career-high with 23 points, including shooting 5-for-7 beyond the arc
- Binion Followed with 12 points
- Szuba rounded out the Vikings in double digits with 11 points
- Szuba led the Vikings pulling down nine rebounds and freshmen Adam Bulwa and Karl Polk Jr. followed with five rebounds
- The Vikings shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
- NPU outscored CSU 41-35 off the bench
- Chicago State's Jace Colley led the Cougars with 22 points and 13 rebounds
What's Next?
The Vikings (0-2) travel to the Moody Bible Institute on Friday, November 22, to play Fontbonne University in the Moody Bible Holiday "Big Four" Tournament. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
--NPU--