CHICAGO, Ill. — In an exciting start to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) postseason, the No. 4 North Park Vikings faced off against the No. 5 Wheaton College Thunder. This was the second matchup between the teams in just ten days, and once again, North Park hosted at Carlson Gymnasium.
The first half was tense and competitive. Both teams knew they had little room for mistakes. North Park relied on the energy of a lively home crowd. Kolden Vanlandingham, an All-CCIW Second Team player, quickly made his mark, scoring 12 points early on. Lazario Cornish added solid support, converting all his attempts in the paint and hitting a three-pointer.
Defensively, North Park had a tough task against Wheaton’s stars, Soren Richardson and Kyan VanderWoude. The Vikings applied pressure and forced eight turnovers in the first half, which led to 14 points. Vanlandingham shined on both ends, contributing two blocks and a steal, while North Park kept their turnovers low with just three.
In a thrilling finish to the half, Wheaton seemed ready to lead by four points. But Cornish intercepted a pass, leading to a fast break. He was fouled and made both free throws, closing the gap to 42–41 as halftime approached.
The second half was nothing short of thrilling. It featured 13 lead changes and 17 ties, easily keeping fans on the edge of their seats. North Park’s ability to convert turnovers into points played a crucial role. They also outperformed Wheaton in key statistics: making 30 of 38 free throws and 9 of 27 three-pointers, compared to Wheaton’s 26 of 39 from the line and 4 of 15 from beyond the arc.
Mike Vuckovic took charge after halftime, scoring 23 of his total 26 points in the second half and overtime. He stepped it up even more after Vanlandingham fouled out early in the second overtime. Up until that point, Vanlandingham was having a standout game with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal.
All 10 starters contributed in double figures, but it was North Park’s bench that made a significant difference, outscoring Wheaton’s reserves 15–0. After Cornish’s exit due to fouls, Julian Campbell stepped in with 8 points and 6 rebounds, while Cornish finished with 17 points and 8 boards. William Bates (16 points) and Marquis Vance (14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds) made a strong comeback in the second half, boosting their team.
Intensity soared during both overtimes, with every loose ball being fiercely contested. In the end, clutch free-throw shooting from Tyvin Garrison and key baskets from Vuckovic led North Park to a narrow victory of 107–100.
Now, North Park moves on to the CCIW Semifinals as the lowest remaining seed. They will take on the top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan on February 27 at 7:30 p.m.
This game not only highlighted the talent of individual players but also demonstrated the importance of teamwork in high-stakes situations. As former NBA player and coach Jeff Van Gundy once noted, “In playoff basketball, it’s all about execution and heart.” North Park’s performance showed both, paving the way for what could be an incredible tournament run.
For more information on upcoming matchups and player stats, you can check the official CCIW website.
