WHEATON, Ill. – For the first time in program history, the North Park men's basketball team can call themselves College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Champions. The Vikings outlasted a red-hot Elmhurst Bluejays team, 83-75, securing the championship win inside Wheaton's King Arena on Saturday night.
13 three-pointers fueled a high-energy first half, as the Vikings sent in five and the Bluejays totaled eight from deep. The two teams traded leads through the majority of the first half before the Bluejays grabbed the largest leading margin of 44-37 with a minute-and-a-half to go before halftime. However, after a Marquise Jackson free throw and a pull up three-pointer by Kolden Vanlandingham, the Vikings stopped the bleeding to force a one-possession game. Elmhurst got the last bucket before halftime on Matt Woloch's driving layup.
In the half, Elmhurst's Tagen Pearson led all scorers with 14 points, including a perfect four-for-four from three, while North Park's Jalen Boyd followed with 13 points, including 2-for-2 and 3-for-3 shooting from deep and the free-throw line, respectively. North Park went to the line 20 times, converting on 12, and Elmhurst got 22 points from their bench.
HALFTIME: Elmhurst 46 North Park 41
The second half featured plenty of good looks to the hoop by the Vikings, led by Shamar Pumphrey finding the open man or going coast-to-coast for quick buckets.
Finding their footing in the second half, the Vikings started their comeback with layups from Jalen Boyd and Jackson before a steal by Pumphrey and assist from Jordan Boyd back to Pumphrey for an and-one layup tied the game at 48 apiece. The Bluejays responded with a Joh Ittounas three and pair of free throws by Matt Woloch, but Jalen Boyd knocked down another shot from deep as the Vikings trailed by two. The two teams would go tit for tat in the next three minutes before North Park began to pull away. Another steal by Pumphrey gave Bulwa a fast-break layup, Jordan Boyd added a short shot, and a pair of jumpers by Bulwa and Pumphrey vaulted the Vikings ahead, 68-59, with just over seven minutes to go.
The fun didn't stop there, however, as Quillin Dixon knocked down an and-one 3-pointer while being driven into his own bench to capture a double-digit lead, 72-60. Elmhurst slashed the deficit to six points, but that would be the closest they could get as North Park won its first-ever CCIW Tournament Championship, 83-75.
Quick Hits:
- Jalen Boyd leads all scorers with 23, shooting 4-of-7 from deep
- Three other Vikings reach double figures: Marquise Jackson (15), Shamar Pumphrey (13), and Jordan Boyd (11)
- Three steals for Jackson, two each for Pumphrey, Dixon, and Bulwa
- Tagen Pearson leads the Bluejays' scorers with 18 points off the bench
- North Park held Elmhurst to just 29 second-half points
From Coach Smith:
"I could not be more proud of the group of young men. They have bought into everything we've asked since day one and tonight was a great exclamation point. We are going to enjoy this but the work is not done, as we are looking forward to the NCAA Tournament this next week!"
What's Next?
Earning the automatic bid, North Park (22-5) looks to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with very realistic hopes to host the first and second rounds this coming Friday and Saturday, March 3 & 4. The selection show will go live at noon on Monday, February 27, revealing who, when, and where for Coach Sean Smith and his Vikings.
