Ott, Frazier
Aubrey Staton
71
Millikin MIL-U 6-13,2-8 CCIW
76
Winner North Park NPU 9-10,4-6 CCIW
Millikin MIL-U
6-13,2-8 CCIW
71
Final
76
North Park NPU
9-10,4-6 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Millikin MIL-U 32 39 71
North Park NPU 47 29 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Morgan Vogels

Men's Basketball's Second Half Comeback Falls Just Short at North Park

The Big Blue men's basketball team traveled to Chicago, Ill. on Wednesday, January 24 for a matchup with the Vikings of North Park University. After falling behind 15 at the halftime break for the second game in a row, Millikin used a huge second half rally to bring the score within three with 1:20 remaining, but were unable to complete the comeback in the 71-76 loss.

JT Welch was the leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Nate Straughter with 15. Frazier Ott was the leading rebounder with nine, chipping in 12 points. The Big Blue shot 52.1% from the field in the contest, going 25-for-48 from the floor. The Big Blue unfortunately also shot 52% from the charity stripe, going 13-for-25. 

For the Vikings, Shamar Pumphrey led the way with 18 points, followed by Kolden Vanlandingham with 10. The Vikings shot 48.2% from the field, going 27-for-56, and 50% from three point range. 

North Park held their double digit lead through the first 11 minutes of the second half. With 8:37 remaining, Welch hit two free throws to diminish the lead to nine, then a Straughter jumper chipped away at the lead further. A three by Straughter with 5:38 to go brought the game to 60-64, then a pair of made free throws by Noah Livingston after a North Park turnover made it a one score game with 5:23 to go. 

The Big Blue hung close, then a jumper by JT Welch with 1:45 left on the clock made it 69-70. Pumphrey hit free throw line jump shot to extend the Viking lead back to three. A Welch turnover with :56 remaining gave the ball back to NPU, but Livingston forced a turnover to get the ball back with :27 left on the clock. A missed jumper followed by a pair of NPU free throws sealed the five point victory for North Park. 

Millikin will return home, looking to improve their conference luck against Carroll University on Saturday, January 27. The game, set for a 4:15 PM tipoff from the Griswold Center, will see a rematch of a game that took overtime to settle back in early December with the Big Blue winning 82-78.
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