WHEATON, Ill. -- The Vikings men's basketball team began their postseason run as the CCIW's #2 seed on Friday evening, heading to Wheaton's King Arena to take on the #3 seeded Carthage Firebirds. Carthage came out on top in the Vikings' home arena the last time these two teams matched up, but North Park gets the last laugh with an 82-62 victory to send them to the CCIW Finals in Coach Sean Smith's first year heading the program.
The score constantly changed hands throughout the majority of the first half as both sides labored to find a rhythm. For Carthage, shooting woes undermined an otherwise strong performance on defense and on the glass. They'd finish the half shooting 7-28 from the floor. North Park did not immediately take advantage of the stumbling Firebirds offense though, as Carthage navigated the Vikings' defensive pressure to limit transition opportunities. That would soon change by the half's end. With the score at 18-18 and just over eight minutes to play, the Vikings rattled off three three-pointers to kick off a 15-5 run that they'd take into the break. A fastbreak flush from Adam Bulwa gave the Vikings a 10-point lead which ultimately held up at halftime, with the score sitting at 33-23. The Vikings generated 5 turnovers in those final eight minutes of play.
North Park carried the defensive intensity, and with it the momentum, into the second half as the 10-point Vikings lead quickly expanded to 18. A Carthage timeout ensued, and the Firebirds managed to recollect themselves to chip the lead down to 11 at a score of 57-46 with ten minutes remaining. NPU responded with 6-0 run, and the Vikings defense would hold Carthage to just 4 more points from then through the four-and-a-half minute mark. On the back of those stout defensive performances down the stretch of both halves, the Vikings cruised to a 20-point victory.
Seven different Vikings scored 8+ in tonight's contest with Kolden Vanlandingham's 13 leading the way. Shamar Pumphrey and Jalen Boyd added 12 each to round out North Park's double-digit scorers, and Pumphrey's 5 assists were a team-best. Busy on both ends of the floor, Jordan Boyd stuffed the stat sheet with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks to pace NPU in both defensive categories.
The Vikings move on to their first-ever CCIW Championship tomorrow evening where they'll take on fourth-seeded Elmhurst, who earned a 76-58 win over top-seeded Wheaton tonight. Tip-off is set for 7:00 P.M. with the CCIW trophy and a guaranteed bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
