Big Blue earns Tournament Berth on Senior Day
The Millikin University men's basketball team defeated North Park University 66-54 on Feb. 12 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill. The win clinched a spot for the Big Blue in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament for the first time in program history.
Millikin improved to 13-10 overall with the win and 8-6 in conference play.
North Park scored the game's opening basket with Millikin senior Calvin Fisher then tying the game at 2-2. Fisher would hit a three-pointer with 17:48 left in the first half to give Millikin a 5-2 lead. The Big Blue would hold that lead the remainder of the game. Millikin led 35-30 at halftime and outscored North Park 31-24 in the second half.
Millikin shot 52 percent (25-48) from the field and went 5-13 (38.5 percent) from three-point range. North Park was held to 22-60 (37 percent) from the field.
Fisher led the Big Blue with 18 points and four rebounds. Millikin celebrated Senior Day with all five seniors getting in the scorebook. Scott Gowan scored nine points and Michael Akinwumi added three points and three rebounds. Jake Hampton and Dawson Jones each scored two points.
Freshman JT Welch scored nine for the Big Blue and junior Cole Laurence finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.