MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central got the great start it needed to break a losing streak against The University of Northwestern in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference season opener for each team on Saturday night. But the Eagles solved the Rams offense in the second half and pulled away for an 83-61 win over North Central.

The game started with a Northwestern basket on their first possession and after North Central (5-4, 0-1) tied it 2-2 two possessions later the Rams would not trail again in the first half. The Rams led by as many as 14 when sophomore Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Christian) got a lay-up that made it 24-10 at the 8:40 mark of the first half. From there, Northwestern chiseled away to tie the game at the eventual halftime score of 34-34 with less than 90 second remaining in the opening period.

Nearly two minutes into the second half NCU jumped back in front 36-34 but the next Eagles possession the visitors hit a three that gave them the lead. North Central got a bucket their next trip to take a 38-37 lead but once again the Eagles had the answer and took the lead back, this time for good, with 16:58 left. UNW then went on a decisive 16-2 run that made the difference 53-40 with 12:17 remaining and the Rams never found a way all the way back.

At several points the lead was trimmed to eight, the last coming with 8:49 on the clock when sophomore Cody Martin (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) hit a three pointer that made it 57-49. A few moments later senior Matt Shepherd (Counsil Bluffs, Iowa/Homeschool) hit a three that made the difference 62-52 with 6:11 left but that was the last of any Rams scoring effort at getting back in the game.

The Rams were led by Luke Chafin who scored a game high 21 points and equalled a team high 7 rebounds. Senior Bryce Burkman (Winsted, Minn./Maple Grove), who played just 26 minutes due to foul trouble and sophomore Clarke Mossman (Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown) each had eight points.

The Rams will get back to UMAC action next weekend with a trip to Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.) and Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) on Friday and Saturday respectively. Friday NCU takes on the Vikings at 5:30 p.m. before taking on the Knights at 3 p.m.