The eighth-ranked Titans erased an 11-point second-half deficit to claim the victory and improve to 16-3 overall and 6-3 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. The Cardinals fell to 15-4/4-4.
North Central held a 79-68 lead with 8:45 to play after Adam Teising (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) hit one of two free throws. Illinois Wesleyan then went on a 12-1 run to tie the score at 80s with under five minutes on the clock after Cory Jones put back a missed shot by Zach Freeman. The teams see-sawed down the stretch until the Titans gained control at 89-85 after two made free throws from Freeman with 30 ticks left. With no quit in the Cardinals, Ray Vicario (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) answered with a three-pointer from the corner to bring North Central to within one at 89-88 with :23 on the clock.
Forced to foul, the Cardinals benefited as Keelan Amelianovich and Freeman both went 1 of 2 from stripe in the final seconds. However, a missed shot with 10 seconds to play, and a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer didn't connect for North Central, sending the team to its fourth loss by single digits this season. Overall, the Cardinals' four losses have come by a combined 13 points.
Junior Anthony Simmons (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville) starred for the Cardinals, scoring on a variety of post moves and fadeaway jumpers en route to 28 points, five rebounds and four assists. However, the 6-foot-6 forward fouled out with 56 seconds remaining, robbing the team of its first offensive option. Vicario added 23 points (7 of 13 from three-point range), Adam Krumtinger (Towanda, Ill./Normal) 15 points, and Teising 12 points and six assists.
Illinois Wesleyan was led by Amelianovich's 28 points. Freeman added a double-double of 20 points and 11 boards, and Adam Dauksas totaled 14 points and seven assists. Cory Jones chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
The Cardinals controlled nearly the entire first half until the final minute. Leading 44-35 after a series of treys from Vicario, the Titans closed the half on a 7-0 run. The run featured a three-pointer from Amelianovich, a steal and layup from Dauksas, and another jumper from Amelianovich coupled with two North Central turnovers. The Cardinals led 44-42 at the break.
Box Score
North Central hosts Millikin University in another CCIW contest Saturday, Feb. 4. The Cardinals lost to the Big Blue 59-58 Jan. 14.