The Carthage College men's basketball team (8-5, 1-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) escaped the North Park Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 8 with a 76-72 win over North Park University (3-10, 0-2 CCIW) in Chicago.

North Park opened up an 11-point lead in the first period, 21-10, at 12:19.  A 16-4 run put the Red Men on top by one, 26-25, at 7:38.  The lead changed hands several times over the final minutes of the half, with the Vikings leadings by six points at the break, 46-40.  Carthage broke out in the second half with a 24-6 run to take a 12-point lead, 64-52, at 12:26.  Marlon Senior sparked that run with 15 points, including a pair of three-pointers.  The Red Men were still leading by 12 points, 68-56, at 8:16 when the Vikings scored 11 unanswered points to pull to within one, 68-67, at 3:32.  North Park pulled to within a point on three other occasions down the stretch, the last time at 73-72 with 1:18 to play.  A free throw by Kevin Sykes Jr. with 48 seconds remaining and two free throws by Senior with 14 seconds to go sealed the Carthage win, 76-72.

Carthage shot just 42 percent (21-50), including 14-of-34 three-pointers, while North Park shot 53 percent (29-55), including five-of-13 from three-point range.  The Red Men got to the free-throw line 26 times and made 20, while the Vikings hit nine-of-15 free throws.  The rebounds were even at 30 each.

Three Carthage starters scored in double figures.  Marlon Senior (Sr., Skokie, Ill./Niles North) scored 20 points on five-of-10 field goals, including three-of-five three-pointers, and seven-of-eight free throws, along with six rebounds.  Kevin Sykes Jr. (Sr., Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) had 19 points on four-of-eight shooting, including four-of-seven from three-point range, and seven-of-10 free throws, along with four assists.  Malcom Kelly (Sr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther) added 15 points on five-of-13 field goals, including four-of-12 three pointers.  Juwan Henry led the Vikings with 20 points on eight-of-14 shooting, while Joe Biko came off the bench to score 18 points on eight-of-nine field goals.  Aaron Weaver added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Carthage plays host to conference-opponent North Central College (8-5, 1-1 CCIW) on Saturday, Jan. 11 in a 7 p.m. game at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.