WHEATON, Ill. -- The North Park men's basketball team took on the nationally-ranked Wheaton Thunder on Wednesday evening, ultimately losing a close battle by a score of 71-76. While that marks the first conference loss of the season for the Vikings, their 3-1 record still positions North Park among the top of the CCIW.
Both sides got out to slow starts, the score sitting at just 4-4 through four minutes. North Park managed to shake the rust off briefly to get out to a small 10-9 lead, but a massive offensive stall ensued that limited the Vikings to just two points over a seven-minute span. The Wheaton defense deserves ample credit for forcing six turnovers in that timeframe as the Vikings maintain an elite turnover margin on the season that has played a massive role in the team's success. North Park was able to bounce back from the stagnant stretch to enter halftime with a six-point deficit at 26-32, but the first half defensive effort from Wheaton went a long way in their eventual victory
The Vikings proceeded to outscore Wheaton 45-44 in the second half. North Park's efficiency improved slightly, but more importantly, the Vikings took 39 shots and 16 free throws in the second half compared to 24 shot attempts and 10 free throw attempts in the first. Cutting down on turnovers and crashing the glass—especially on offense—were critical for the Vikings to regain control of the possession battle. At one point in the period, North Park flipped their six-point deficit at half into a six-point lead. Wheaton maintained their composure though, trading blows with the Vikings until the Thunder eventually began pulling away with five minutes remaining. A late Vikings push narrowly fell short, marking the score final at 71-76.
North Park operated with a balanced scoring attack that saw four Vikings reach double-figures, led by Shamar Pumphrey's 19 on 7-12 shooting (3-4 on 3PA). Kolden Vanlandingham, Jordan Boyd, and Marquise Jackson were other Vikings to cross the 10-point mark, with 15, 12, and 11 respectively. Vanlandingham added 4 steals while Boyd collected 8 rebounds, both representing team-highs.
What's Next?
Following the hard-fought loss to Wheaton, North Park looks to rebound against Elmhurst this Saturday to start off the evening. The Vikings host the Bluejays with tip-off set for 4:15 P.M., immediately following the mirrored matchup between the two school's women's teams which is set for 2:00 P.M.
