North Central fell to 14-9 overall and 4-8 in the CCIW while Millikin improved to 12-11/4-8.
The Cardinals led nearly the entire first half and most of the second half until back-to-back three-pointers by Jason Fisher gave Millikin a 58-56 lead with 6:50 to play. The game was a seesaw battle the remaining minutes. The Big Blue pulled ahead 69-65 with under a minute to play but Adam Teising (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) coralled a loose ball and scored underneath to cut the deficit to two at 69-67 with 18 ticks on the clock. After Fisher made two free throws at the other end, Ray Vicario (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Anthony Simmons (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville) both had three-pointers to cut the deficit but were unable to connect.
Fisher led all scorers with 27 points. Chuck Williams added 15 points for Millikin. Simmons was the only player to finish in double figures for North Central with 17. He also led the Cardinals in rebounding with six. Junior forward Mike Wilson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) had six points and three assists in the first half but did not play in the second because of an ankle injury.
In the first half, North Central jumped out to an 11-4 lead after Vicario drained a three-pointer and Patrick Flanigan (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) scored on a fast-break layup courtesy of a steal and assist from Walton. The Cardinals later led by as many as 17 at 37-20 after Teising had a steal and breakaway layup while being fouled.
Millikin closed the half strong. Despite an up-and-under move by Simmons with 10 seconds left in the half, the Big Blue’s Williams drained a three-pointer at the buzzer and Millikin trailed 42-34 at the break. Fisher’s 13 points led the Big Blue while Simmons paced the Cards with 10.
The Cardinals host Illinois Wesleyan University Monday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.