Simmons was 9 of 16 from the floor and he also dished out three assists. It's the second game in a row in which the forward has asserted himself offensively. On Feb. 5, he was 11 of 11 from the floor for a career-high 32 points against Wheaton College.
North Central had three other player finish in double figures as Ray Vicario (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) scored 14 points, Mike Wilson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) 12 and Adam Krumtinger (Towanda, Ill./Normal) 10. Wilson also had a team-high six assists. As a team, North Central shot 57 percent from the field (26 of 46). North Park was led by Matt Lindahl's 15 points, and Brett Mathisen chipped in 10.
A jumper by Mathisen pulled North Park to within two at 15-13 with 12:10 on the clock in the first half. North Central then went on a 22-0 run to take a 37-13 lead with 5:17 remaining in the half. The Cardinals unleashed a barrage of shots from behind the arc. Vicario and Daniel Doyle (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West) had two three-pointers apiece during the run, and Patrick Flanigan (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) had one. North Central led 41-26 at the break.
The Cardinals host Millikin University Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.