SPORTS: North Park Upsets Illinois Wesleyan

CHICAGO (January 27, 2000) - A layup by Kerry Pates and three free throws by Keith Peterson in the final moments helped North Park University upset fifth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan in a College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin game played before a crowd of some 1,500 people.

NPU trailed 52-44 midway through the second half before rallying to beat the Titans (13-4 overall, 5-1 in the CCIW) for the first time since 1994. The Vikings (13-4, 4-2) were paced by Robert Berki's 16 points while IWU's Luke Kasten led all scorers with 19.

After Pates' layup put NPU ahead 66-65, Peterson drew a charge on Titan guard Korey Coons (18 points) and made 1-of-2 free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Down 67-65, IWU had a chance to tie, but Adam Osborn missed a layup off an inbounds pass at halfcourt and Peterson iced the contest with two more foul shots.

Osborn finished the scoring on a field goal with two seconds left, but NPU ran out the clock and set off a wild celebration at midcourt. The Vikings' triumph avenged an 85-78 loss at IWU January 10.

Rick Alspach scored 15 points for NPU, helping the Vikings take a 37-33 halftime lead with accurate long-range shooting. NPU was strong defensively in the opening 20 minutes, holding the Titans to 11-for-28 field goal shooting.

Kasten and Coons put IWU ahead early in the second half and NPU struggled offensively. But, Berki scored 10 of his points in the second half and Peterson's late-game defense on Kasten enabled the Vikings to move into second place in the conference, one game behind IWU and Carthage College.

Peterson had 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds for NPU, which plays host to North Central College at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) on January 29. NPU is ranked sixth in the Midwest Region, according to the latest Division III national poll.

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