Box Score

The Carthage College men's basketball team (18-5, 10-2 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 22nd in the Feb. 9 “D3hoops.com” poll and second in the Feb. 10 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional poll, moved into sole possession of first place in the CCIW on Saturday, Feb. 13 with a 75-72 win over North Central College (11-12, 4-8 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. Illinois Wesleyan University (18-5, 9-3 CCIW) entered the evening in a first-place tie with Carthage, but the Titans fell at home to Wheaton College (Ill.), 65-59. The Red Men have two games remaining, this Wednesday, Feb. 17 at home versus North Park University and Saturday, Feb. 20 at Millikin University.

There were13 lead changes and five in a close first half. Carthage led by as much as seven points, 25-18 at 6:11, but the Cardinals closed out the period on a 12-3 run to lead by two at the break, 30-28. The game stayed close in the second half, with seven more lead changes and six ties. The Red Men finally enjoyed some breathing room at 5:50 when Malcom Kelly's layup put them up by 10 points, 67-57. Carthage made it an 11-point contest, 65-54, at 3:01 on a layup by Steve Djurickovic. The Red Men led by six in the final seconds, 75-69, although David Twyman's three-pointer at the buzzer made it a three-point game at the end, 72-69.

Carthage shot 51 percent (24-47), while North Central shot just 39 percent (23-59). The Cardinals had a slim rebounding edge over the Red Men, 35-33. Malcom Kelly (Fr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther) led the Carthage attack with 18 points on five-of-nine field goals, including three-of-seven three-pointers, along with five-of-six free throws and four rebounds. Steve Djurickovic (Jr., Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Kenosha-Bradford), who fouled out for the first time in his three-year Carthage career, had 15 points on six-of-11 from the floor and two-of-three from the free-throw line, along with seven assists. North Central's David Twyman scored a game-high 26 points on nine-of-15 field goals, along with seven-of-nine free throws and a game-high 12 rebounds. Derek Raridon had 20 points and six boards. 

“This is a tough matchup for us,” said Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic, “because North Central plays a five-small lineup much of the time. They did a good job of preparation. They wanted to keep Steve Djurickovic off the free-throw line, and they certainly did that. In the end, good teams have to find a way to win close games. Malcom Kelly was terrific night, but if we don't play better, we're going to get bit in the butt eventually. We're 18-5 overall and 10-2 in one of the best leagues in the country, and maybe we're a little ahead of schedule.

Carthage also completed a weekend of dedication ceremonies for its $13.5 Tarble Arena project. The Red Men play host to North Park (12-11, 6-6 CCIW) on Wednesday, Feb. 17 in a 7:30 p.m. game, also at Tarble Arena.