The Millikin men's late rally fell a basket short as the Big Blue lost at North Park in Chicago 58-56 on Jan. 14.

          North Park led for most of the game including holding a 34-28 advantage at the half.  The Big Blue stuck with the Vikings the entire second half tying the game midway through the half.  North Park would then open up another lead and was up by six with just over two minutes left to play.  A Brock Van Nordeck three pointer made it 57-54 Vikings.  A Matt Merrigan jumper would make it a one point game with 1:23 left to play.  The Big Blue had a chance to take the lead twice in the final ten seconds.  After a missed basket by Millikin's Kelvin Jacobs, the Big Blue were forced to foul sending North Park to the free throw line.  The Vikings Josh McNaughton made one free throw and missed the second with four seconds left to play.  A Von Nordeck rebound gave the Big Blue another chance, but the Von Nordeck's shot at the buzzer was no good giving North Park the two point win.

          Rodney Clark led the Big Blue with 23 points going 9 for 13 from the field including hitting on four of five from three point range.  Merrigan added 15 and Von Nordeck scored 14 for the Big Blue.  Jacobs had a team high eight rebounds.

          Mark Holmes led the Vikings with 21 points.

          Millikin shot 50 percent from the field and Clark's hot shooting led the Big Blue to 57 percent from three point range.  The Big Blue held North Park to just

37.5 percent from the field.  North Park had an advantage at the free throw line where they hit on 9 of 17.  Millikin only attempted five free throws in the entire game hitting on floor.  The Big Blue didn't get a free throw opportunity in the second half.  The Vikings were only called for 10 fouls on the game.  North Park had a 32-26 advantage in rebounding.

          Millikin will host Elmhurst on Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m.