CHICAGO -- The North Park University men's basketball team fell to the University of Chicago Maroons, 85-65, inside the North Park Gym on Saturday afternoon.   

Freshman forward Karl Polk Jr. marked six of the first eight points for the Vikings at the beginning of the first quarter making the score 11-8, Maroons. 

With a score of 27-17 in favor of U-Chicago, the Vikings erased a 10-point deficit, highlighted by a three-point bucket from junior Izaiah Sanders, making the score 27-24.   

However, the Vikings only managed a pair of three-pointers by Szuba the rest of the half and the Maroons paced a 10-0 run as the Vikings trailed, 44-30, at the end of the first half.  Szuba led the team with 11 points and Polk Jr. followed with eight points.  Szuba also led the Vikings grabbing five rebounds.  

Halftime: University of Chicago 44, North Park 30 

In the second half, the Maroons kept their foot on the gas and led by as much as 20. Freshman guard Nicholas Ramirez scored six unanswered points on a three-pointer and converted an and-one opportunity to cut the Maroon lead to 12 at 54-42. 

The Maroons out-rebounded the Vikings 45-38 and made 19 free throws in the second half, as U-Chicago defeated the Vikings, 85-65.   

Final: University of Chicago 85, North Park 65 

Quick Hits:  

• Sanders led the Vikings with 15 points

• Polk Jr. followed with 12 points and Szuba contributed 11 points

• Szuba led the Vikings with nine rebounds

• The Vikings blocked a team second-best four shots

What's Next?  

The Vikings (2-10, 0-3 CCIW) jump back into CCIW play welcoming the Big Blue of Millikin University to the North Park Gym on Wednesday, January 8.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. 

--NPU--