WHEATON, Ill. -- North Park Men's Basketball (10-8, 3-6 CCIW) once again battled back from a slow start and a sizable early deficit before ultimately falling, 94-85, to Wheaton (11-6, 5-3 CCIW) on Saturday night.
The Thunder struck first and emphatically, opening the game with a 12–2 run fueled by a Devin Martin three-pointer and a series of transition finishes by Kyan VanderWoude. Wheaton's first-half shooting barrage of 22-for-34 from the field allowed the hosts to build a 55-27 advantage with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period. North Park, briefly retaliated when junior guard Mike Vuckovic, freshman guard Marquis Vance, and junior guard Jerome Smith Jr., trimmed the gap to 57-35 by halftime on some timely makes.
The second half belonged largely to the Vikings, who emerged from the locker room with a renewed defensive focus. North Park outscored Wheaton 50-37 in the final 20 minutes, finding buckets when cutting low while coming up with important stops on the opposite end. Vance and Vuckovic sparked the push, with Vanlandingham adding crucial finishes at the rim to chip away at the deficit. A turning point came just past the midway mark of the half, when North Park strung together an 8-0 run—highlighted by a Vuckovic fast-break layup at 10:44, a Lazario Cornish finish at 10:03, and a series of strong drives by Vance. Suddenly, what had once been a 28-point margin shrank to a two-possession game, with the Vikings pulling within 72-67 after Vance's layup at the 9:20 mark. The momentum in King Arena shifted, and for several possessions North Park dictated the pace, winning battles on the offensive glass and forcing multiple Wheaton turnovers.
Wheaton, however, found just enough to hold off the surge. A timely three from Soren Richardson restored a cushion with 6:35 remaining, and the Thunder drew fouls down the stretch to slow North Park's rhythm.
The Vikings' comeback efforts were anchored by standout individual performances. Vuckovic poured in 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals while serving as the emotional spark of the second-half push. Vance followed closely with 23 points, attacking downhill throughout the afternoon and providing key baskets during North Park's most pivotal run. Kolden Vanlandingham added 12 points and three rebounds, contributing crucial early scoring stretches and steady ball pressure. For Wheaton, Richardson led all scorers with 26 points and six rebounds, while VanderWoude's 24 points helped build the early advantage that ultimately gave the Thunder the margin they needed. Carson Grier added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to round out Wheaton's top performers.
What's Next?
North Park returns to Carlson Gym next Wednesday, January 28, to face Carroll University (8-10, 3-6 CCIW). Tipoff in Chicago is set for 7:00 PM CT.
