Photo credit: Paige Wilcox
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University men's basketball team fell to the Carroll University Pioneers, 69-61 inside the North Park Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Carroll brought the offense early on in the first half, gaining an eventual 22-11 lead over the Vikings with 9:05 left in the half. Jumpers by Jalen Boyd, Izaiah Sanders, and Anthony Diaz put the Vikings withing striking distance, and a free throw from Marek and layups from Jalen and Jordan Boyd tied the game at 22 each.
The Pioneers would accelerate ahead once more, utilizing a jumper and three-pointer from Ryan Mendoza before three jumpers by Diaz, Mike Osborne, and Karl Polk, Jr. tied the game once more, 30-30.
However, Carroll would hold a one-shot lead at halftime, following a last-second turnaround jumper in the paint by Josh Hudgens.
Halftime: Carroll 32, North Park 30
The Vikings started their second-half scoring thanks to Sanders, Jordan Boyd, and Marek, but their now five-point lead began to trickle away with 11 minutes left in the game.
Unfortunately, the Vikings shot 1-of-9 beyond the arc and 4-of-10 from the line in the second half, while the Pioneers went 5-of-8 and 8-of-9 in the same half. This was the difference maker, as North Park dropped the weekend game, 69-61.
FINAL: Carroll 69, North Park 61
Quick Hits:
- Anthony Diaz turned in a quality performance off the bench:
- Shot 4-of-5 from the field
- Totaled nine points and a pair of rebounds
- Swiped two passes
- North Park shot 10-of-22 from the free-throw line, while Carroll shot 9-of-10
- Carroll's Tarren Hall turned in a double-double, 26 points and 13 boards
What's Next?
North Park (1-5) travels to No. 7 Wheaton College next Tuesday, February 9, in its second game against the Thunder. Tipoff at King Arena is set for 7 p.m.
