CHICAGO, Ill. -- Senior guard Rico Powell's double-double powered the North Park Men's Basketball team to an 87-73 win over Augustana College (8-6, 1-4 CCIW) on Saturday night. North Park shot 52.7% from the field (29-55) and the team allowed just 26 rebounds, tying a season low.
Augustana chopped down a seven-point North Park lead three times in the opening half with timely shots from beyond the arc while forcing 13 North Park turnovers. Augustana had 12 free chances in the first half and converted on just three of them: two by Matt Hawkins and a 1-for-1 trip for Tyler Knuth.
A 25-22 first-half lead for North Park was further bolstered by a jumper from sophomore forward DJ Wallace and junior guard William Bates before Barry and senior guard Kyren Gardner each found two points with a layup to extend NPU's lead to 33-26.
North Park continued to pester their opponents, blocking four shots and credited with five steals. Three of those steals were generated by senior guard TJ Gardner and a pair of blocked shots went to senior forward Taijon Barry.
Augustana's Knuth led all scorers at halftime with 10 points, going 3-for-3 from deep. NPU senior guard Rico Powell led North Park with nine points and four rebounds.
Heading to the locker room, North Park managed a double-digit advantage, 41-31, with all the momentum on their side.
NPU opened its second possession of the half with an and-one layup for Wallace before Knuth buried his fourth consecutive three in the corner, closing the gap to 45-36 in North Park's favor.
Things only got better for the Vikings defending their home court in Chicago. Barry blocked four shots in the game, a career high, as North Park rotated its offensive pieces to fire on all cylinders. Powell was a catalyst for the offense in the second half, hitting threes in stride to extend the NPU lead to 20.
Augustana crawled back into the game late as things slowed to a screeching halt with foul trouble, but North Park still cruised in the 87-73 win.
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What's Next?
North Park (10-5, 5-1 CCIW) has a Wednesday bye before hosting North Central College (10-5, 3-3CCIW), who took No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan to triple overtime on Saturday, on Jan. 18. Tipoff in Chicago is set for 4:15 PM CT.
