After a tooth-and-nail battle too big for 40 minutes, the North Central College men's  basketball team found itself on the losing end of consecutive games for the first time this season on Saturday, as the Cardinals were set back with a 71-69 overtime loss before a crowd of more than 2,500 at Wheaton College.

Fifth-ranked North Central (16-3, 5-3 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) lost for the third time in its last four CCIW road games after holding an eight-point lead with 2:16 left in regulation and leading briefly during the overtime period.

Wheaton scored the game's first four points and led until Derek Raridon's three-pointer capped an 11-2 run and gave the Cardinals their first lead at 13-12. North Central owned a 26-20 advantage before the Thunder scored six points in 1:27 to tie the score at 26-26 2:15 on the clock. Jack Burchett's bucket in the paint put the Cardinals back in front before Wheaton's Michael Kvam knocked down a three-pointer to send the hosts into halftime with a 29-28 lead.

North Central opened the second half with a layup from Landon Gamble and a three-pointer by Vince Kmiec to pull ahead once again. The Thunder (15-4, 5-3 CCIW) responded with a 17-4 surge that threatened to put the game away and left Wheaton with a 49-39 advantage with 11:29 to play.

Raridon connected on jumpers on the next two possessions and wound up scoring nine points in a 14-1 North Central rally which negated the Thunder's progress and gave the Cardinals a 53-50 advantage with 6:23 left in regulation.Aaron Tiknis' three-pointer with 2:16 on the clock gave North Central its largest lead at 63-55.

Wheaton's Tyler Peters scored the game's next six points to get the Thunder back within a single possession at 64-61, and Brayden Teuscher's three-pointer with 35 seconds left knotted the score at 64-64. The Cardinals' final possession of the period resulted in a turnover and their first overtime session of the season.

Tiknis opened the extra session with a pair of free throws and a layup, and North Central owned a 68-66 edge with 3:14 left. Nate Serenius tied the score for Wheaton with a jumper and Peters gave the Thunder a 69-68 lead with a free throw, which Raridon matched on the next trip down the floor. Serenius sank one free throw in two attempts with 28 seconds left, and the Cardinals once again saw a late possession end with a turnover. Teuscher connected on one of two free throws with seven seconds still on the clock, but North Central was unable to get a shot off.

Raridon finished with 18 points for the Cardinals, while Gamble and Kmiec each totaled 11. Gamble led the team with eight rebounds and four assists, while Kmiec established a new career best with a game-high five steals. 

Peters paced Wheaton with 20 points, while Teuscher scored 19 and Kvam provided 14.

The Cardinals host Carthage College (10-9, 5-3) on Wednesday. TIpoff at Gregory Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.