CHICAGO, Ill. -- For their second conference game of the young season, the North Park Men's Basketball Team (4-3, 1-0) hosted the Millikin University Big Blue (4-3, 1-0). The game was due to be an entertaining one, and the results proved that with North Park the victor, 73-64.
The first half was practically a stalemate as both teams were even across the board. Though the Vikings shot 33% from three, they still hit the same amount as Millikin as both teams only made four for the half. The Vikings did hold a slight advantage in rebounds and assists, having three more offensive boards and nine assists to the Big Blue six.
Offensively, it was senior Rico Powell who led the Vikings with 7 points. Seniors TJ Gardner and Davante Robinson both contributed 5 points. Off the bench, junior Tristan Arneaud was getting his teammates involved with a game leading four assists through the first half. Millikin notched a one-point lead going into halftime up 30-29.
Switching sides must have been the answer for the Vikings in the second half as the team shot a red hot 53.8% from behind the arc and 68% from the field, while holding the Big Blue to zero threes made in the second half. The game remained tight for the most part, but the Vikings were firing on all cylinders and got up by as much as nine points. A season high in team assists (19) and a season low in turnovers (8) were crucial to the success in tonight's game. North Park's stifling defense was once again a deciding factor forcing 10 turnovers along with 5 steals, 3 blocks, and multiple shot clock violations.
Powell continued to be aggressive, ending with a game high in both points and rebounds with 16 points and 7 boards.
The second half saw some key contributions from junior Lance Nelson and senior Taijon Barry. Barry ended with 8 points and a block and Nelson with 9 points and 5 assists. Arneaud ended with a game high 7 assists and two of those were to Nelson with less than two minutes left in the game, where Nelson knocked down two threes from the left wing putting the Vikings up seven points down the stretch.
DJ Wallace was also clutch late in the game, giving North Park a 63-56 lead thanks to an important three in front of the NPU student section.
The Big Blue resorted to playing the foul game hoping for a couple Vikings misses to close the gap that was created by Nelson's clutch shooting, but it was enough as the Vikings secured the victory 73-64.
Quick Hits:
What's Next?
In a week's time on Saturday, December 14th, the Vikings will take the quick ride to Wheaton College to face the Thunder (3-7, 0-1) at 7:00 PM CT, followed by three straight non-conference games.
Postgame VSN Interviews:
Postgame NPUmedia Interviews:
