MINNEAPOLIS-- Men's Basketball made a furious comeback on Tuesday to get within a single posession of stealing a late victory. But the rally came up just short in a 77-74 lost to Hamline University at home on Tuesday night.

The speed and physical style of Hamline gave the Rams trouble all night and the Pipers built a 46-29 advantage at the break. NCU committed 10 first half turnovers which combined with Hamline firing over .500 from the floor (17-33) to create a decent cushion for the vistors after 20 minutes.

Straight out of the gate in the second half the Rams got their three point shooters on track and began to climb back in the game. After the team hit just two three pointers the first 20 minutes of the game, senior Josh High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) nailed a pair of shots from deep in the first minute of the second half to spark the Rams comeback efforts.

By the nine minute mark of the half the Rams were within 60-53 with plenty of time to keep things interesting down the stretch and they kept the pressure on the Pipers with great three point shooting and team rebounding. NCU would get within three points at several junctions of the final five minutes including with 29 seconds left when freshman Jared High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) hit a trifecta to make it 73-70.

But the Pipers would convert just enough free throws down the stretch to stay in front the rest of the way. After sophomore Joel Cline (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) got a lay-up that made it 74-72 with less than 15 ticks left, Hamline converted 3 of 6 trips to the line and held off the Rams.

Joel Cline led NCU with a game high 24 points with 7 rebounds. Josh High added 15 points and Jared High added 13 points and a game high 8 rebounds. In the second half North Central fired 8-16 (.500) from behind the three point line and ended up at .400 for the game (10-25). NCU also outrebounded the Pipers 21-12 in the second half.

North Central is now off through the Thanksgiving weekend before returning to action with a weekend road trip on December 4 and 5. First the Rams play at Finlandia University (Houghton, Mich.) on the fourth before taking on Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) on the fifth. Saturday will be the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opener for both NCU and Northland.