MORRIS, Minn.-- This weekend marked one year since Nathan Roeder set the North Central University Men's Basketball single-game scoring record in a Rams victory. On Saturday night he celebrated by shattering his own record and carrying the Rams to a 99-92 road victory over the University of Minnesota-Morris which places NCU in a three way tie at the top of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference standings.

North Central (9-6, 4-1) found themselves down 43-42 at halftime to the Universitiy of Minnesota-Morris despite making five more field goals than the Cougars on the same amount of attempts (28). Morris made three more three-point field goals and converted more free throws (11) than the Rams attempted (5) over the first 20 minutes of action. But the Rams were just 15 minutes of halftime recovery away from one of the best individual halves of basketball in the history of the program.

After junior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) drew a foul and converted a pair of free throws to give NCU a 43-42 lead just 11 seconds into the second half, the Rams would never trail again. However, North Central would need the massive effort of Nathan Roeder to overcome a Morris team that made 13, three-point baskets on the night. Roeder made a lay-up at the 19:14 mark of the second half on the way to a second 20 minutes where he went 10-14 from the floor, including 6-7 from behind the arc. He also converted 12 of 14 free throws to tally 38 points in the half.

While Roeder's immense night helped North Central stay in front, it also took key contributions from a cast of players for the Rams to earn their fourth Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory of the year. Morris made several runs to trim a double-digit NCU lead that reached as many as 15 down to just 6 with 3:13 remaining.

Nathan Roeder hit a pair of free throws with 2:53 remaining and on the ensuing possession senior Dylan McKneely (Baton Rouge, La./Broadmoor) blocked a three point attempt on a close out effort before junior Ben Peters (Faribault, Minn./Maranatha Academy) grabbed a defensive rebound and got it off to Roeder who was fouled. With 2:31 left, another set of Roeder free throws made it 92-82.

After UMM got to within 95-87 with 1:07 remaining, Jordan Harrell converted the first of a pair of free throws but missed the second. He was able to get the rebound and put it back up only to miss once again. Junior Bryce Burkman (Winsted, Minn./Maple Grove) collected that miss and laid it in to put NCU ahead 98-87 with 48 seconds left.

The Cougars got another three pointer but it was too late and the Rams claimed a 99-92 final outcome.

Nathan Roeder poured in 51 points on the night by shooing 15-23 from the floor, including 9-12 from three point range. He was 12-14 at the free throw line with 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists and only 3 turnovers. His record setting night came one year and two days after he broke the previous NCU single game scoring record.

On January 17, 2012, Roeder poured in 44 points at home in a Rams victory over Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.). He is the only player in program history with four games of 40 or more points in his career.

Jordan Harrell scored 17 points and pulled down 5 rebounds. Bryce Burkman added 12 points and 5 rebounds. Sophomore Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Christian) added 8 points off the bench.

The Rams will be back in action at home next Friday when they host Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) in their sixth UMAC game of the season. NCU and Northland will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

(Scoreboard photo courtesy of Shelby Norman)