CHICAGO, Ill. -- 11 three pointers and only five turnovers guided North Park Men's Basketball to an exciting win over the Carthage Firebirds on Saturday. The Vikings made a season high 24 free throws in the key CCIW win.
The first half was as close as things could get, as the standard that has been set for quick transition buckets continued for North Park. Senior guard Davante Robinson was a catalyst for the Vikings' scoring stretches for anything not scored down low. Robinson buried a pair of threes, including one not too far away from halfcourt, to go ahead 18-12 with nine minutes to go in the half.
Carthage pulled closer on a layup by Ran Johnson and three pointer by AJ Williams before a minute of scoreless basketball ensued.
A pair of free throws by senior guard TJ Gardner and respective free shots for the Firebirds let NPU keep a 22-21 lead.
With two-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half, senior guard Lance Nelson reignited the Vikings' lead, which happened to be their largest of the evening, 37-29.
Once more, though, Carthage fought its way back into the game with a pair of layups by Griffin Daun and perfect trip to the free throw line for Johnson.
Both teams broke for halftime tied at 38. Daun led all scorers with 13 while North Park's Robinson had 10. Powell had an astounding nine first-half rebounds, getting his hands on nearly every missed shot.
North Park drove ahead to a 10-point lead on threes by Powell and Barry after successful drives to the basket by senior guard Preston Bax III and a dunk by sophomore forward DJ Wallace.
Nelson made it a dozen by driving to the hoop and finishing on the right side: 61-49 NPU with 13 minutes left.
Carthage's Nemi Ostojic scored two on a layup before a perfect pass from Barry to Robinson, who finished with a reverse layup, kept the 12-point lead as Coach Edwind McGhee called a timeout.
The two teams traded threes as Colton Sigel buried one on the far wing before senior guard Kyren Gardner had plenty of time to sink his in the corner. He followed that with another at 9:50, giving NPU its biggest lead of the game at 73-58.
Carthage maneuvered their way to a nine-point deficit before junior guard William Bates blew through traffic for a bucket on the right side. However, Daun responded with a successful and-one drive, slimming the NPU lead to 81-75. The Firebirds would get even closer, capping off a scoring run with a layup by Johnson to trail North Park, 82-79.
The Vikings would keep the Firebirds away through the final three minutes, though, knocking down nine free throws in the final three minutes to secure a 93-82 win.
Quick Hits:
- Six different Vikings score in double figures, led by 18 from Davante Robinson
- Robinson 2-for-3 from deep and made all six free throws
- Double-double for Rico Powell: 12pts, 10reb
- Carthage's Griffin Daun led all scorers with 25 points, also going a perfect 6-for-6 on his free shots
- Vikings' 24 free throws and 32 attempts are both season highs
- North Park 11-for-20 from deep
- Vikings took care of the ball, just five turnovers
- Five blocks for the Vikings, two each for DJ Wallace and Taijon Barry
What's Next?
North Park (14-6. 9-2 CCIW) stays home next Wednesday, Feb. 5, for a game against Wheaton College (3-16, 0-10). Tipoff inside Carlson is set for 7:00 PM CT.
