MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- After leading all but the final three minutes North Central University Men's Basketball surrendered a tough loss, 88-83, at home to Northwestern College on Tuesday evening. The Rams and Eagles battled throughout the full 40 minutes of an exciting contest that was marked by NCU foul trouble and a strong finishing push by NWC.

North Central led by as many as 10 in the first half before heading to the locker room up 38-35. A strong second half start gave the Rams a 46-38 lead at the 17:56 mark but that began what would be a trail of surges by each team over the final 15 minutes of action.

A terrific, finals-week crowd was electrified by a three pointer from junior Matt Shepard(Council Bluffs, Iowa/Homeschool) that gave NCU a 62-49 lead with 13:13 left. Three minutes later NWC had trimmed the margin back to 66-60.

After Bryce Burkman (Winsted, Minn./Maple Grove) made a lay-up at the 6:12 point of the second half that gave NCU a 75-66 lead, Northwestern began what would be their final decisive move. The Eagles took the lead for the first time in the game, 78-77, on a lay-in with 2:54 remaining in the contest.

Senior Nathan Roeder (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) answered back the next posession with an offensive rebound and put-back that gave NCU their final lead of  79-78 at 2:32 remaining. Northwestern regained the lead the next posession and would go on to claim the win. 

Nathan Roeder was joined by junior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) with a game-high 22 points. Harrell had a huge night for NCU, also adding a game high 14 rebounds. Bryce Burkman added 12 points despite starting and playing only 25 minutes due to foul trouble. 

Nathan Roeder also eclipsed the North Central University Men's Basketball career assist record with an assist on a Jordan Harrell lay-up at 11:47 of the first half. Roeder now has over 1600 points and 390 career assists. 

North Central will be back in action when they host Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) on Saturday at 2 p.m.