ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The North Park University men's basketball team's second half woes continued on Saturday afternoon, falling to Augustana College 74-71.
It was a familiar story that took place in a different venue, as North Park corralled a slim 24-23 lead at the Carver Center with 7:14 to go in the opening half. Both Viking teams traded layups in their next possessions – one from Augustana's Justin Bottorff and Jordan Boyd returned the favor for North Park – before a nearly three-minute scoring drought took place.
With 3:56 left in the first half, Lawrence Pointer sent in a free throw to snap the scoring lull. Next, jumpers by Jordan Boyd and Toby Marek extended the North Park lead to 31-25, before the host Vikings narrowed the North Park lead to 33-30 at halftime.
Halftime: North Park 33, Augustana 30
Augustana responded in the second half, rallying its offense to the point of leading 63-51 with more the 12 minutes of the final half gone. However, North Park went on an 11-1 run in the next two and a half minutes to bring themselves within striking distance – 64-62 Augustana. Four different North Park Vikings contributed to the run: two pointers from Jordan Boyd, Jalen Boyd, and Mike Osborne, and three pointer from Lawrence Pointer.
Unfortunately, Augustana was too hot to handle in the second half, shooting 16-of-27 from the field (59.26%) and 7-of-10 from beyond the arc (70%) to earn a 74-71 win.
FINAL: Augustana 74, North Park 71
Quick Hits:
What's Next?
North Park (1-10) travels to Carroll University next Tuesday, February 23, to face the Pioneers. Tipoff at Van Male is set for 7 p.m.
