DULUTH, Minn.-- North Central came into Friday's match-up with The College of St. Scholastica needing just one victory to secure a berth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference post season tournament. After a failing to overcome a big second half deficit, NCU will remain in search of that single victory going into Saturday's regular season finale. The Rams dropped a 72-66 final tally to the Saints on Saturday.

North Central (13-10, 8-5) was in front briefly through the first portion of the opening half before a pivotal sequence changed the face of the game. With around 11 minutes left in the first half and the score tied at 19 junior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) was called for an offensive foul. The very next play he was called for his second foul and in the reaction was given a techincal foul that forced him to the bench for the rest of the half.

Over the next four minutes St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) went on an 11-0 run and took control of the game to lead 30-19 at the 7:34 mark of the first half. Eventually the Rams would trim the lead to 32-28 after freshman Clarke Mossman (Conrad, Iowa/Marshalltown) got a defensive rebound and was fouled to earn a pair of free throws that he converted with 5:44 in the half. But St. Scholastica pushed the lead back to 44-33 at the halftime break.

In the second half things got worse before they got better for NCU. Over the first five minutes of the final period St. Scholastica pushed the lead out to 54-35 before the Rams started chisling away. NCU managed to get the lead down to six points after freshman Cody Martin (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) got a steal and laid ito off for a dunk by Jordan Harrell with 4:05 left in the game.

The next Saints possession freshman Rodney Richardson (Des Moines, Iowa/Grandview Park) got a big steal and a three point shot for the Rams was halfway down before rimming out. A lay-up from freshman Per Gulbranson (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) cut the lead to 67-62 with 2:11 left but the Saints were able connect on free throws the rest of the way and earn a victory.

Senior Nathan Roeder (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) led NCU with 19 points. Jordan Harrell added 16 points and 6 boards despite playing only 19 mintues and fouling out with 3 minutes left.

Sophomore Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Christian) added 12 points. Clarke Mossman came off the bench to pull down 12 rebounds which equaled a game-high mark.

The Rams will have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow and earn a spot in the UMAC post-season tournament when they travel to Northland College (Ashland, Wis.). The Rams tip off versus the Lumberjacks at 5 p.m. in Ashland.