CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park men's basketball team fell in their final home contest of the 2023-24 season on Wednesday night against the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's top team Illinois Wesleyan, 85-74. The win guaranteed the Titans an outright CCIW title and simultaneously knocked North Park out of playoff contention.
In a battle reminiscent of the first matchup this season in Bloomington, the Titans controlled most of the scoring in the pain while the Vikings relied on chaos and chances off fastbreaks and turnovers.
Illinois Wesleyan wasted little time, exploding to a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game on short jumpers, points in the paint, and the first three of the game from Luke Yoder. However, North Park punched back with a three from junior guard Kolden Vanlandingham, jumpers by sophomore guards TJ Gardner and Kyren Gardner, and a jumper from senior guard Shamar Pumphrey to close the gap to 21-17. However, through the next nine minutes of the half the Titans pulled away again, utilizing their size in the paint to grow their lead to double-digits before a free throw from junior center Phil Holmes, Jr. brought the score to 42-33 at halftime.
Pumphrey opened the Vikings' second half scoring with a three pointer and followed up with a jumper from the elbow in the Vikings' next possession. Next, after an IWU fastbreak layup, Pumphrey banged home another three to bring the Vikings within five points, 46-41, just two minutes into the second half. Unfortunately, this was as close North Park would get, as the Titans held steady with an 85-74 triumph.
Quick Hits:
- Vikings shoot 40.6% (28-for-69) from the field and 20.6% (7-for-34) from deep
- 34 threes attempted was one short of a season high – 35 at Lawrence on Nov. 8
- Vanlandingham with 18pts, Pumphrey and Holmes follow with a dozen each
- Holmes also added six rebounds
- Titans in double figures: Yoder (19), Hakim Williams (15), Nick Roper (14), Ryan Stroka (12), and Harrison Wilmsen (12)
- IWU wins the rebounding game 46-30
- Vikings generate 20 fastbreak points and 21 points off turnovers
What's Next?
North Park (10-14, 5-10 CCIW) rounds out its season this coming Saturday, Feb. 17 on the road. The Vikings will face Wheaton inside King Arena with tipoff set for 7:15pm.
