ELMHURST, Ill. – The North Park University men's basketball team fell to the 11th-ranked Elmhurst College Bluejays, 96-81, on Saturday evening.
North Park played the nation's 11th-ranked team tough in the first half, trailing by just eight points at halftime. Through the first 11 minutes of the game, Elmhurst gained as much as a 17-point lead. However, a pair of layups from freshman forward Karl Polk, Jr. and three pointers by junior guard Izaiah Sanders and junior forward Matt Szuba pulled the Vikings within 10.
Halftime: Elmhurst 42, North Park 34
The Vikings played well in the second half, shooting 7-for-15 beyond the arc. However, the Bluejays utilized a 58.62 field goal percentage (17-29) and 40 points in the paint to take the game 96-81.
FINAL: Elmhurst 96, North Park 81
Quick Hits:
- Junior guard Toby Marek led the Vikings with 18 points
- Polk, Jr. captured a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds
- Sanders and junior guard Lawrence Pointer both reached double-digit point totals
What's Next?
North Park (2-12, 0-5 CCIW) travels to Bloomington, Ill. on Wednesday, January 15, to take on Illinois Wesleyan University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
