CHICAGO -- The North Park University men's basketball team continued its stretch of three home games in five days, falling to the Rockford University Regents, 71-69, inside the North Park Gym on Wednesday Night.
The Regents started the first half marking seven of the first 11 points. However, after narrowing the score to 14-12, the Vikings took the lead following a jumper from junior guard Toby Marek and a three-pointer from junior guard Lawrence Pointer. Following a Rockford tip-in, the Vikings tallied five-straight points to hold a their most significant lead - 23-16 - with nine minutes left in the half.
After the Regents tied the game at 29 all with four minutes to go, freshman forward Karl Polk Jr. and freshman guard Jacquan Binion marked a pair of two-pointers.
However, in the closing seconds of the first half, the Regents took the lead on a last-second layup to 37-35 going into halftime. Polk Jr. led the Vikings with 14 points and three rebounds while Jacquan Binion followed with eight points.
Halftime: Rockford 37, North Park 35
After taking a two-point lead into the half, the Regents kept their pace, marking 12 of the first 13 points to extend their lead to 48-37.
The Vikings cut the Regents lead to five on a three-pointer and an-one layup by freshman guard Darion Binion, but still trailed 48-43. Down by seven after a basket by Rockford, the Vikings cut the Regent lead to three on field goals from Polk Jr. and junior guard Izaiah Sanders, making the score 56-53.
Rockford kept their distance through the remaining eight and a half minutes of the second half until a jumper and three-pointer from Pointer brought the Vikings within one – 66-65 – with a minute left to play.
The Regents responded with a three of their own and, following a layup from Polk Jr., converted on a pair of bonus free throws.
In the closing seconds of the game, Marek drove the lane to deliver a lay-up, making it a one-possession game.
Unfortunately, after the Regents missed the front end of a one-and-one, the Vikings missed a last-second three-pointer as Rockford defeated North Park, 71-69.
Final: Rockford 71, North Park 69
Quick Hits:
- Polk set a new career high in his double-double performance, scoring 23 points while grabbing 11 rebounds
- Pointer and Binion each added 13 points
- Sanders totaled nine rebounds
- Marek assisted on six shots
- Regent guard Brandon Emerick led the Regents with 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc
What's Next?
The Vikings (1-8, 0-3 CCIW) welcome the Blueboys of Illinois College to the North Park Gym on Friday, December 20. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
--NPU—
