After ending the game tied at 79s, North Central held a one-point lead at 89-88 with 45 seconds remaining in overtime after Anthony Simmons (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville) hit 1 of 2 from the free-throw line. However, Elmhurst All-American Chris Martin needed only six seconds to dribble up court and drain a three-pointer to put Elmhurst up 91-89 with 39 seconds left. The Cardinals worked the ball on their ensuing possession, but Simmons' attempt in the lane came up short with 11 ticks on the clock. Elmhurst's Chris Ihlenfeldt then hit 2 of 2 from the line to put Elmhurst ahead 93-89 with seven seconds remaining.
Adam Teising (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) then went coast-to-coast for a left-handed layup that cut the deficit to two at 93-91 with 2.6 on the clock. But Evan Patchett sank 1 of 2 from the charity stripe for a 94-91 lead. With 2.1 remaining, the Cardinals' ensuing full-court pass was intercepted and they were unable to get off a game-tying attempt.
Martin finished with a game-high 29 points on 11 of 19 shooting, including 5 of 10 from three-point range. Brent Ruch added 20 points and seven boards, Brian Lee 17 points and four assists, and Nick Michael 15 points and seven rebounds.
Adam Krumtinger (Normal, Ill./Towanda) led North Central with 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Ray Vicario (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) had 19 points and five assists, and Dan Walton (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) finished with 17 points. Simmons and Teising each added 16 points and six assists.
After leading 37-36 at halftime and by eight points on several occassions in the second half, the Cardinals were unable to put the game away. The team led 73-65 with just under five minutes left in regulation after two free throws by Krumtinger. The Bluejays tied the score at 77s with under a minute left after Martin recorded back-to-back assists, the first to Lee for a three-pointer and the second to Ruch for a layup. After Lee hit two free throws to put Elmhurst up 79-77 with 7.7 on the clock, Teising went coast-to-coast and finished his layup with two seconds left to tie the game and send it into overtime.
North Central plays at Wheaton College Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.