The Millikin men's basketball team's upset bid of #11 North Central College fell one point short and a fraction of a second late as the Cardinals held on to win 59-58.

          North Central missed two free throws with two point six seconds remaining and the Big Blue's Deavis Johnson pulled down the rebound after the second miss.  Millikin moved the ball up the court, but Elijah Kinmon's basket came just after the final buzzer sounded giving the Cardinals the victory.

          The Cardinals led the entire second half, but could only get the advantage to double digits once early in the half.  The Big Blue kept fighting back and a Chase Robbins layup with just under two minutes pulled Millikin to within two at 56-54.  North Central would push the lead back to four with 44 seconds left on two Aaron Tiknis free throws.  The Big Blue pulled to within three with 14 seconds left when Johnson converted one of two free throws.  Tiknis would again go to the line for the Cardinals hitting one of two.  Trent Windemuller's three pointer pulled Millikin to within one at 59-58 with three seconds left. 

          Millikin battled the Cardinals all night long and survived a three minute stretch in the first half that had North Central hit five of six from three point range to pull out to a 14 point lead.  Millikin fought back and the Cardinals took a 31-25 advantage to the locker room at halftime.  North Central would need every point of that advantage as the Big Blue outscored the Cardinals in the second half 33-28.

          North Central shot 39.5 percent from the field and hit on 19-28 from the free throw line (68 percent).  Millikin shot 45 percent from the field including 41 percent from three point range.  Millikin hit only 9-17 from the free throw line (53 percent).  North Central pulled down 30 rebounds and the Big Blue grabbed 29. 

          Millikin had a balanced scoring attack led by Windemuller with 11 points, five rebounds and three steals.  Johnson had 10 points, a team high nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.  TJ Griffin had eight points, three assists and two steals.  Millikin's lone senior Rodney Clark had eight points and three assists and Tommy Pilackas scored eight points.

          Derek Raridon led the Cardinals with 20 points.  Landon Gamble had 13.

          Millikin will have another tough challenge ahead as they host #22 Wheaton College on Feb. 9 at 4 p.m.