KENOSHA, Wis. -- After a three-game hiatus from CCIW play where they went 2-1, with the only loss arriving at at #11 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the Vikings looked to get back in the win column against a Carthage College (8-3, 2-0) team that was second in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) and received votes in the most recent D3hoops.com National Top 25 Poll. North Park would walk away from Tarble Arena with a 69-68 win, remaining the only unbeaten team in CCIW action.
In what was expected to be a close game, the first half did not disappoint. Though the score was close, North Park was in the driver's seat and had the advantage in every category other than free throws and tying each other's team rebounds, as the Firebirds shot 14 free throws to the Vikings 6. With numbers like that, the team shooting more free throws usually has the lead. However, it was the Vikings' trademark defensive pressure that was the difference in the first half, causing 11 turnovers with 8 of those being steals and scoring 16 points off those turnovers. Combine those numbers with a 22-16 points in the paint advantage and their 50+% three-point shooting, North Park was able to make up for the free throw disparity.
7 of the 16 Vikings' field goals came from assists while 10 of the 11 players who saw the court in the first half all scored, showcasing the teams unselfish play and making it hard for defenses to key in on one player defensively. For North Park, junior William Bates and sophomore DJ Wallace had nearly identical stat lines in the first half with 7 points apiece, both shooting 100% from the field (3-3 FG and 1-1 3PT respectively). Wallace had 3 steals and 4 rebounds to round off his first half, and senior TJ Gardner added 6 points and 3 of the seven Viking assists. The Vikings went into halftime up 39-32.
The excitement continued in the second half where North Park was able to stretch their lead to as much as 10 points. The Firebirds, though, were able to tie the game a couple of times down the stretch but could never take their first-half lead back from the Vikings. However, the opportunities were there for the Firebirds, since North Park's shooting numbers in all three categories dropped from the first half, but Carthage couldn't buy a three-point basket themselves.
North Park forced 18 total turnovers in the game and edged the rebounding advantage thanks to their 16 offensive rebounds, displaying the relentlessness that the Vikings continue to show.
As the game drew closer and closer to its end, Carthage was able to tie the game for the third time at 68-68 with less than 30 seconds left thanks to a tough layup from guard AJ Williams. The Vikings inbounded the basketball and called a timeout when they crossed halfcourt so that head coach Ed McGhee could draw up a play.
The clock wound down as the drawn up play started to fall apart and senior John Gaines found fellow senior Taijon Barry wide open on the right block. As the defense collapsed on Barry he was fouled in the act of shooting with 1.1 seconds left on the clock. After knocking down the first, the Firebirds called a timeout to try and ice Barry. With the score at 69-68, Barry intentionally missed the second free throw so that once someone touched the ball time would expire, presumably talked about in the previous timeout, securing the win and claiming sole possession of first place in the CCIW.
All 11 players to see the floor did end up scoring thanks to senior Rico Powell posting 7 second half points after a scoreless first— the Vikings also had eight players score 6 or more points. Wallace ended his night with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals on an efficient 4-6 shooting, but it was Gaines who also had an impressive second half posting 9 points and ending the game with a career high 7 rebounds. Senior Davante Robinson also set a career high with four timely steals.
Top Performers
- DJ Wallace – 10 PTS, 5 REB, 3 STL
- John Gaines – 11 PTS, 7 REB, 1 STL
- Taijon Berry – 7 PTS, 6 REB, 1 BLK, game-winning free throw
- Rico Powell – 7 PTS, 3 STL
- William Bates – 7 PTS, 3-3 FG, 1-1 3PT
- TJ Gardner – 6 PTS, 3 AST
Postgame Interviews
What's Next?
North Park (9-4, 4-0 CCIW) will now have back-to-back home games beginning with #9 Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday, January 8th at 7pm followed by Augustana College on Saturday, January 11th at 4:15pm.
