A slow start in the second half provided too steep a mountain for the North Central College men's basketball team to climb against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation Wednesday, as the ninth-ranked Cardinals' seven-game winning streak was snapped by a 75-64 loss to Augustana College at Gregory Arena.

Trailing by a 41-34 count at halftime, North Central endured a five-minute dry spell shortly after play resumed which enabled the Vikings to build a 19-point lead. The hosts rallied to narrow the gap to as little as five points, but were held at bay by Augustana's tough defense and timely free-throw shooting.

The Cardinals (13-2, 3-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) trailed, 8-2, at the game's outset, but bounced back and took their first lead at 14-13 after two free throws byErwin Henry. The lead changed hands on each of the next nine baskets before a three-pointer by North Central's David Fuller tied the game at 25-25 with a three-pointer. Two free throws by the Vikings' Danelius Jurgutis were answered by a putback from Mike Reinke, but the visitors got a three-point play from Jawan Straughter and a jumper on the fast break from Jurgutis to inch ahead, 32-27. Augustana extended its advantage to 41-31 before Jayme Moten closed the half with a three-pointer.

North Central's Charles Rosenberg scored the opening basket of the second half, but the Cardinals came up empty on the next eight possessions as Augustana scored 14 straight points to take its largest lead at 55-36. The Cardinals got back into contention by scoring the game's next 11 points, eight of which came from Moten, and after an inside bucket by the Vikings' Brandon Motzel, Moten drilled a three-pointer andKevin Honn scored a layup to leave North Central with just a 57-52 deficit with ten minutes left.

The Cardinals got no closer, however, as Augustana made 10 of 13 free throws down the stretch and yielded just two North Central field goals down the stretch. The Vikings wound up limiting the hosts to 35.1 percent shooting (20 of 57) from the floor and claiming a 39-30 rebounding advantage.

Moten was the Cardinals' lone double-figure scorer with 22 points and handed out four assists. Jack Burchett grabbed a team-best six rebounds and Rosenberg blocked three shots.

Augustana (14-1, 4-0 CCIW) got 18 points from Jurgutis and 10 points and nine rebounds from Motzel as it recorded its ninth consecutive win.

North Central hosts No. 22-ranked Elmhurst College on Saturday. The Bluejays dropped to 12-3 overall and 2-2 in the CCIW with Wednesday's 70-68 loss to Carthage College.