Thanks to Rebecca Moravec for the pictures
CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park men's basketball team is off to a 1-0 start after defeating Lake Forest College (0-3) by a score of 75-63 on Wednesday night at NPU Gymnasium. Jalen Boyd scored a career-high 20, while grabbing 11 boards to lead the Vikings in both categories.
Adam Bulwa got the season scoring underway with two free throws to start the contest, followed soon after by Gabe Johnson scoring his first points as a Viking on a layup to go up 4-0. The defense put a stranglehold on Lake Forest early, allowing only four points in the first 6:46. After Jonathan Johansson made a three with 12:16 to go, North Park would grab their largest lead of the contest with a 21-6 advantage.
The lead stayed between 15 and 10 points for some time, until late in the second half when the Foresters went on a run to cut their deficit to only four with 24 seconds to play. Michael Osborne flipped in a layup to beat the buzzer, though, as the host Vikings went into the locker with a six-point edge.
Halftime: North Park 38, Lake Forest 32
Again, the Foresters refused to go away, even taking a one-point lead with as little as 10:15 left in the ballgame. A little later, the Vikings were only up by two with five minutes left. A pair of free throws from Jordan Boyd, combined with another Osborne bucket sandwiched in between two Lake Forest makes had the advantage back to just two with 3:38 to play.
Izaiah Sanders hit a huge three pointer on the ensuing possession for North Park to spark a 12-2 Vikings run to end the ballgame. Lake Forest score their final points of the game, while NPU answered with two Jalen Boyd jumpers, two Osborne free throws, and a shot clock-beating three from Jalen Boyd to put the cherry on top for the undefeated Vikings.
Final: North Park 75, Lake Forest 63
Quick Hits:
- Jalen Boyd had 20 and 11 for that double-double, mixed in with three steals as well.
- Osbourne and Johansson joined Jalen Boyd in double figures with 11 each. Johnson finished with 10 and seven boards.
- Jordan Boyd chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds.
What's Next?
The Vikings (1-0) will host the Kingsmen of California Lutheran University (1-0) on Sunday, November 14th. Tipoff will be at 1 PM at NPU Gymnasium.
