MINNEAPOLIS-- Men's Basketball dropped a tight home opener at the hands of Concordia College on Friday night. The Rams withstood a second half run by the Cobbers to eventually take a late lead before the visitors earned a 79-73 victory.

North Central (1-1, 0-0 UMAC) and Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.) traded the lead several times before the Cobbers took a 36-35 advantage to the locker room. But out of the break it looked like Concordia might run away with game.

Concordia ran off a 13-3 run to create a 49-38 spread just over four minutes into the second half. Freshman Jared High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) hit a three pointer that began an 16-4 run that put things back at 54-53 at the half way point of the second half.

A few moments later Jared High canned another three pointer to give NCU a 59-56 lead with 9 minutes remaining. The game would be tied or change leaders five times over the next five minutes before Concordia would forge ahead for good with 2:34 left and hang on to take the victory.

Jared High had a huge night for NCU with a new career best 26 points on a red-hot 6-7 shooting from the three point area. Sophomore Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./N.E.W. Lutheran) added 15 points and a team high 6 rebounds. Senior Josh High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) added 11 points for NCU.

North Central is back in action tomorrow night when they host Marian University (Fond du Lac, Wis.). The Rams and Sabercats are slated for a 5 p.m. tip-off.