Following a script similar to Saturday's victory over Millikin University, the North Central College men's basketball team broke open a close game with a series of key second-half plays on Tuesday to defeat North Park University, 73-54, at Gregory Arena.

The Cardinals (12-6, 6-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) remained tied with Illinois Wesleyan University for first place in the CCIW standings and improved to a perfect 9-0 this season on their home floor. 

The game was closely contested early on, with three ties and four lead changes in the first eight minutes. North Central faced a 11-10 deficit before a jumper by Derek Raridon and layups by Landon Gamble and Charlie Rosenberg nudged the hosts ahead, 16-11. The Vikings scored the next five points to tie the game once again, but a pair of free throws from CJ Goldthree and another layup by Rosenberg put the Cardinals back in front.

North Park (5-13, 1-6 CCIW) trailed, 26-20, with 5:49 left in the half, but scored five straight to narrow the gap to a single point. The Cardinals buckled down on defense and held the visitors scoreless for the next four minutes and scored seven straight points, six of which came from Goldthree, to take a 33-25 lead before North Park's Mark Holmes closed the half with a bucket.

North Central emerged from the halftime break and got back-to-back jumpers from Raridon and Kevin Gillespie to pull ahead by double digits for the first time. The Vikings got within five points at 39-34 only to fall victim to a trio of inside baskets by Gamble that prompted a North Park timeout with 14:33 left to play. Rosenberg soon followed with a three-point play and a tip-in and the Cardinals were not threatened from then on, leading by at least 10 points for the final 10 minutes of play.

The Cardinals made 7 of 11 shots from the floor in the final 7:13 and shot 57.1 percent (16-28) in the second half. Gamble set the pace by scoring 18 points on 9 of 16 shooting, while Raridon and Goldthree each scored 15 and Rosenberg added 10. Aaron Tiknis finished with seven rebounds and Gillespie totaled six assists.

Mike Gabriel led North Park with 17 points and Holmes put up 15 points and eight rebounds. 

North Central travels to face Carthage College (9-9, 3-4) on Saturday. The Red Men defeated Elmhurst College, 77-58, on Tuesday. Saturday's tipoff at Tarble Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.