CHICAGO, Ill. -- College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament play kicked off on Tuesday evening as North Park, who finished in third in the CCIW, hosted the North Central College Cardinals, who finished third. In the two meetings these teams had during the regular season, the Vikings won the first by 12 points at home while the Cardinals walked away with a win at their place by 5 points just a couple of weeks ago.
The first ten minutes of play saw the Cardinals take early control, knocking down 78.6% of their shots, an absolutely scorching clip that had North Central up 29-17 at the 11-minute mark. This hot start came by way of hitting six of their first seven three pointers.
For the Vikings, senior guard TJ Gardner was aggressive early with 7 points in the first ten minutes, accompanied by a defensive spark from fellow senior Taijon Berry off the bench bringing his physicality and quick hands. Berry accounted for a block and a steal that lead to a layup that closed the Vikings' margin to 34-29 with just over five minutes left in the first half. Back-to-back three point baskets by senior Rico Powell got the Vikings within three points late in the half at 49-46 as the Vikings continued to apply their signature full court pressure forcing the Cardinals into 5 turnovers to the Vikings' 1.
Senior Davante Robinson knocked down a clutch floater driving baseline to cut the score to 49-48 going into half and immediately after Gardner blocked the Cardinals' half-court heave, looking to add to the momentum in the second half. Both teams were very efficient from three, the Vikings shooting 7-12 and the Cardinals shooting 8-12, but it was the Vikings who held the rebounding and turnover advantage—North Park was able to score 11 points off of North Central's 5 turnovers.
Powell led the offensive attack for the Vikings with 12 points, with sophomore DJ Wallace right behind him with 10 points going 2-2 from behind the arc. Gardner and Berry combined for 15 points with 9 and 7 respectively. Senior Lance Nelson added seven assists in the first half.
North Central continued their efficient night maintaining a 64% shooting clip through the first ten minutes of second half play, but the Vikings weren't too far off at 50%. However, the Cardinals got back to their double-digit lead at 69-59, again due to their incredible three-point shooting. Another contested Powell three pointer from the corner cut North Central's lead to five points at 70-65, from there the game saw both teams trading baskets and remaining close to one another.
With just under two minutes to go the score was tied 87-87 in a game that was sure to end in some fashion of excitement. A huge offensive rebound and layup from Berry tied it back up at 89 after a North Central player knocked down both of his free throws. The following possession, the Vikings defense forced a turnover where Nelson found junior Tristan Arneaud for the wide-open layup in which he subsequently missed. The Cardinals would go to the line taking the 91-89 lead with 19 seconds left to play.
Gardner drove hard to the basket and kicked it out to find Nelson in the corner for three, giving the Vikings the lead 92-91 for the first time since the 17-minute mark of the first half. With the crowd erupting and the Vikings 11 seconds away from advancing to the next round, North Central pushed the ball up the court finding the red-hot Ethan Helwig on the right wing for his 7th three of the night regaining the lead 94-92 with 4.8 seconds left on the clock.
After a timeout to draw up a full court play to try and win the game, Gardner got to the left wing where he had to double clutch a heavily contested shot that was on target but just grazed the net, ending the Vikings' season in heartbreak, 94-92.
Top Performers
- Rico Powell – 22 PTS, 8 REB, 4-8 3PT, 4-4 FT
- TJ Gardner – 19 PTS, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
- Ethan Helwig - 21 PTS, 7-9 3 PT
- Terrance Moncrief - 17 PTS, 9 AST
- Lance Nelson – 14 PTS, 10 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL
- Taijon Berry – 12 PTS, 6 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK
- DJ Wallace – 11 PTS, 4 REB, 1 STL, 4-6 FG, 2-3 FT
Thank You, Seniors
Special thanks to the seniors, John Gaines, Tristan Arneaud, Preston Bax III, Rico Powell, Taijon Barry, TJ Gardner, Davante Robinson, Lance Nelson, Julian Gatewood, Kyren Gardner, and Victor Ekman for their dedication to North Park University.
