The Vikings raised their record to 12-9 overall, 2-8 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central fell to 6-16, 2-9. NPU hosts Illinois Wesleyan University in a 7:30 p.m. CCIW game on Wednesday.

Deaderick, who was last week's CCIW Player of the Week, posted 22 points to put NPU up 42-36 at the intermission. The 6-foot-5 senior made 10 straight free throws and ended the half with a reverse jam.

In the final 20 minutes, Deaderick received some help on offense from his teammates as Jimmy Mack started the second half with a 3-point basket following a Deaderick foul shot. Javier Sanchez then pitched in with a lay-up. Aaron Coleman had two field goals and Sanchez hit a short jump shot at the 17:09 mark to put NPU ahead 56-40.

The visiting Cardinals never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way despite 20 points from Monte Williams. The Vikings overcame 21 turnovers by making 11 straight foul shots during one stretch (they were 39-for-48 overall) and used balanced scoring - five players in double figures - to better last year's win total with four games remaining.