SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Men's Basketball lost a tough second round game on Thursday night at the NCCAA National Championship Tournament. But they rallied their courage and found a way to prolong their season with victory in the consolation bracket on Friday afternoon. NCU lost a 73-70 tilt to Ozark Christian College Thursday night. But they overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Northland International University 76-58 on Friday. That victory moved the Rams into the NCCAA National Fifth Place game on Saturday afternoon.

North Central (18-12) fell to Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Mo.) on Thursday night. The Rams led for a large part of the first half before falling behind 33-30 at the half. Ozark build a lead that reached double figures deep into the second half before a lay-up, a steal of the pending in-bounds pass followed by another lay-in from senior Nathan Roeder (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) tied the game at 70 with just a bit more than a minute left. Ozark got an offensive rebound and stick back to set the game at 72-70 with less than 30 seconds left.

The next possession Roeder got all the way to the hoop and drew contact but his shot did not fall and no foul was called. The Ambassadors got the rebound and the Rams fouled with around five seconds left. OCC was 1-2 at the line to give NCU a shot but the Rams three point attempt was just off and Ozark earned the win. Roeder led the Rams with a game high 25 points to go with 7 rebounds. Junior Bryce Burkman (Winsted, Minn./Maple Grove) added 13 points and 6 rebounds. Sophomore Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) added 10 points and 7 rebounds despite playing less than 22 minutes with foul trouble.

Friday saw the Rams back in action in the consolation bracket where they would face off with another team dealing with disappointment. Northland International University was the second ranked national seed before being upset in the second round by Arlington Baptist College (Arlington, Texas). The game would be a test for both teams as they tried to deal with their national championship aspirations being extinguished. The game would feature several runs and saw NCU fall behind late in the first half and head to the locker room down 31-27. 

But after the Pioneers pushed their lead to as many as six early in the second half NCU eventually took control with around nine minutes remaining. North Central would end up with 76-58 victory over the Pioneers to earn a spot versus Trinity Baptist College (Jacksonville, Fla.) on Saturday.

Jordan Harrell recorded a clutch double-double with a game high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Nathan Roeder added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists despite missing time with fouls and fouling out with around two minutes left. Senior Dylan McKneely (Baton Rouge, La./Broadmoor) stepped up with his backcourt mate out with foul trouble to add 14 points, 5 rebounds with just 2 turnovers in 33 minutes of action. Sophomore Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Christian) just missed a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

The Rams will end their season with a 2 p.m. tipoff versus Trinity Baptist College on Saturday afternoon. The winner will earn fifth place in the tournament.