Malcom Kelly must have decided that the Red Men just weren't going to lose.  The fifth-year senior scored 27 points, as the Carthage College men's basketball team (9-5, 2-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) defeated CCIW-opponent North Central College (8-6, 1-2 CCIW), 65-51, on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.

There were five lead changes and three ties in the first period with neither team leading by more than five points.  North Central had an early, 4-0 lead.  The Red Men took a 21-18 lead at 4:40 and led by five at the break, 27-22.  Carthage edged out to an 11-point lead, 39-28, at 14:24, and the Cardinals never got any closer than seven points the rest of the way.  After closing to 49-42 at 6:31, North Central was out-scored, 16-9, down the stretch, as Red Men went on to win by 14 points, 65-51.

Carthage shot just 54 percent (21-39), including eight-of-14 three-pointers, while North Central (Ill) shot 49 percent (21-43), including just three-of-11 from three-point range.  The Red Men got to the free-throw line 21 times and made 15, while the Cardinals hit six-of-nine free throws.  Carthage had a narrow, 24-23 rebounding edge.

Carthage's Malcom Kelly (Sr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther), who did not start, played 27 minutes off the bench and was the lone Red Men in double figures with a game-high 27 points.  Kelly connected on nine-of-14 field goals, including five-of-seven three-pointers, and a perfect four-of-four from the free-throw line, along with four rebounds.  With 189 career three-pointers, Kelly needs just two more to pass Antoine McDaniel (190, 2000-03) and become Carthage's career leader.  Marlon Senior (Sr., Skokie, Ill./Niles North) scored nine points with four rebounds and three assists.  Vince Kmiec led North Central with 11 points.  Landon Gamble had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Tyler Sutton added 10 points.

"The goal is always put some distance between you and the opponent," said Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic.  "We have not always had great success doing that, but tonight, the guys gave us a good, solid effort.  As I often say, this was a man's game.  It was brutally physical, and our guys are better able to handle that this year.  Our rebounding was good across the board and a good team effort.  Malcom Kelly is as offensively-talented as anyone in the league.  When he plays at this percentage, we're pretty darn good.  He makes shots that look difficult, but for a player of his magnitude, they're not hard.  His balance is outstanding.  We did a good job defending Landon Gamble, especially Mike Kastel and Cameron Van Wyk.  Landon Gamble, by the way, is probably one of my 10 most-favorite players that I've seen in the CCIW.  He makes big plays at the correct time.   This is what CCIW basketball is all about.  This was a high-quality basketball game—very intense."

Carthage plays host to conference-opponent Wheaton College (Ill., 10-4, 3-0 CCIW) on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in a 7 p.m. contest, also at Tarble Arena.