ST. PAUL, Minn.-- Men's Basketball traveled east on interstate 94 on Friday to wrap up their 2014 schedule with a game at Hamline University. The host Pipers made several runs to get in front by double figures but the Rams answered every surge and eventually made big plays down the stretch to earn a last second, 75-74, non-conference win at Hutton Arena.

North Central (4-6, 0-0 UMAC) met up with Hamline University (St. Paul, Minn.) for the first time since 1991 on Friday at Hutton Arena. The Pipers (4-5, 1-4 MIAC) pulled in front 27-15 over the first ten minutes of the game before the Rams fought back to briefly take the lead for just the second time in the game on a lay-up from senior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) with less than 2 minutes to go in the half. Eventually the Pipers would get a bucket before the break to take a 37-36 lead into the locker room.

Over the first eight minutes of the second half, Hamline would take back some control of the game, building a 56-44 lead on a pair of free throws with 12:48 left. The teams would trade small runs before Hamline took their final double figure lead, 62-51, with less than 7:30 remaining. But junior Cody Martin (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) nailed a big three point shot in response and began the Rams final push that would eventually prove to be the difference.

After Hamline hit a jumper that made it 66-58 with under five minutes left, freshman Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./N.E.W. Lutheran) hit a three pointer that began a string of the teams trading shots for the next two minutes. Junior Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Chrisitan) got a basket that made it 70-65 with 3:34 remaining and a defensive stop on the other end followed for NCU. Jordan Harrell got another lay-up, NCU turned away the Pipers on defense and Chafin got all the way to the rack for a lay-in that got the Rams within 70-69 with just 1:49 in the game.

Hamline would push the lead back out to 74-69 with 75 seconds left but the Rams refused to leave Hutton without the win. Luke Chafin was fouled going for a defensive rebound and converted a pair of free throws that made it 74-71 and after a Pipers miss Cody Martin snagged a rebound with 35 seconds left. Out of the timeout Travis Voigt got into the lane, was fouled and converted another pair of free throws to make it just 74-73 with 18 seconds still on the clock.

NCU applied full court pressure and Voigt made a crucial steal on the Hamline in bounding play to give the Rams a shot at the lead. NCU called timeout with 9 seconds left to draw up their final play. As he had the whole game, Luke Chafin was able to get in the lane, and this time hit a game winning leaner in the paint from about 8 feet. Hamline nearly turned it over again and their last second, deep three point try missed to finalize the Rams victory.

Luke Chafin and Jordan Harrell proved to be a tough combo to handle on Friday. Chafin posted a game high 22 points with 4 boards and Harrell added 18 points on 8-10 shooting with a team high 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

North Central's point guards were also very effective as Travis Voigt scored 13 points on an efficient 4-6 from the floor with 4 assists while Cody Martin added 10 points on 3-4 shooting with 3 assists.

North Central out-rebounded the Pipers 33-29 on the night. Relatively low rebound numbers were a result of both teams shooting well from the floor. Hamline fired .483 (29-60) while North Central shot .537 (29-54). 

North Central is now off for the Christmas holiday break and through the New Year. The Rams will return to action on January 10 in their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference season opener. NCU takes on defending UMAC champion The University of Northwestern (St. Paul, Minn.) at 5 p.m.