DECATUR, Ill. – The North Park University men's basketball team (4-21, 2-14 CCIW) concluded their regular season and fell to the Millikin University Big Blue inside the Griswold Center on Saturday. 

Both teams got off to sluggish starts in the first five minutes of the first half.  The Vikings only saw two field goals: a layup by junior forward Vegard Tangen and a jumper by freshman guard Izaiah Sanders.  The Vikings led the Big Blue 4-3. The two teams continued to go back-and-forth as no team led more than two points until Levi Laws hit a three and put Millkin in front 17-13.  After Jordan Cunningham hit a layup, Tangen struck back with a three-pointer and put the momentum back in the hands of the Vikings.  

After two field goals by Millkin, Sanders and sophomore guard Toby Marek cashed in a pair of layups making the score 26-21 Millkin.  Likely for the Vikings, Millkin only mustered one more field goal in the last three and half minutes of the first half.  North Park finished the half marking the last five points on a three by Marek and a pair of free-throws by Tangen.  However, the Big Blue led the Vikings 28-26 at the half.  

Marek and Tangen led the Vikings with seven points.  Marek also led North Park with four rebounds.  

Halftime: Millikin 28 North Park 26

Unlike the sluggish start in the first half, the Big Blue and the Vikings got off to hot starts in the second half.  The Vikings and Big Blue scored a combined 15 points in the first three minutes making the score 35-34 Millikin.  Sophomore forward Matt Szuba tallied a pair of threes for the Vikings during that stretch. After Millkin went on a 10-4 run, Szuba shot a three and stalled the Big Blue run.  The Big Blue struck back with six straight points until Marek hit a trio of free throws.  Millkin led 51-44. Freshman guard Alan Nikoletic hit another three and cut the Millkin lead to 51-47.    

Millkin took control of the game and notched 14 of the next 16 points making the score 65-49.  Marek broke up the long Millkin run with a layup. The Big Blue continued to shoot the lights out scoring the next six points until sophomore guard Antonio Gardner made a three making the score 71-54.  

North Park was outscored 8-7 in the final minutes of the game as the Big Blue defeated the Vikings 79-62.  

Final: Millikin 79 North Park 62

Quick Hits:

• Marek Led the Vikings with 16 points
• Szuba, Gardner, and Tangen followed with nine points apiece
• Marek also led the Vikings with five rebounds and five assists 

–NPU–