MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central built a first half lead but Crown College refused to surrender with out a fight. The Rams and Storm engaged in a back and forth tilt in the second half before North Central came out on top with an 82-78 victory that helped them earn a spot in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference post-season tournament.

North Central (12-12, 7-6 UMAC) built a 38-25 lead with 2:44 left in the first half. Crown responded and the Rams faultered by missing their final four shots and the Storm trailed just 38-34 at the break.

In the second half, North Central opened with two quick baskets but Crown sophomore James Brown willed his team to stay in the game all night and answered with a six point burst of his own that got Crown back to within 44-40 at the 16:58 mark. Over the next eight minutes the two teams would nearly match each other shot for shot with eight lead changes and eight ties before the Rams gathered a slight edge.

With 8:35 left and Crown taking their first lead since the 13:04 mark of the first half, junior Clarke Mossman (Conrad, Iowa/Marshalltown) hit a big jumper on the Rams next trip to tie it up at 63-63. Sophomore Isaiah Rustad (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) pulled down a defensive rebound and assisted on a made jumper from freshman Joel Cline (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) that put the Rams in front 65-63 and North Central would never trail again. After both teams missed scoring chances, senior Jordan Harrell (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) got a bucket that pushed the lead to a two possession game with 6:05 left.

Clarke Mossman hit a jumper with 4:51 remaining that gave NCU a 71-66 lead. Both teams would trade three empty possessions before senior Luke Chafin (Dayton, Ohio/Troy Christian) pulled down a defensive board and connected on a deep outlet pass that gave Jordan Harrell a slam that shook the Clark-Danielson rafters. That jam made it 73-66 with 3:18 left and seemed to temper the Rams resolve down the stretch.

The Storm would continue to fight but every time they made a play the Rams responded. North Central got in front 77-70 with 42 seconds leftand junior Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./N.E.W. Lutheran) and junior Cody Martin (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) combined to go 6-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

Jordan Harrell led the Rams with 22 points on 11-14 shooting and 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Luke Chafin added 20 points, 4 boards and 4 assists. Travis Voigt came off the bench to add 18 points.

Clarke Mossman was a key player for the Rams as well, posting a double-double of 13 points on 6-10 shooting with 11 rebounds and no turnovers. Cody Martin played a nice game at the point with 5 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and just two 2 turnovers in 28 minutes.

The victory over Crown also clinched a spot in the UMAC post-season tournament next week, assuring the Rams a top four finish in the league's regular season standings. The outcome of tomorrow's match-up with The University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris, Minn.) will help decide if the Rams earn the third or fourth seed in that tournament.

North Central and Minnesota-Morris are scheduled for a 5 p.m. tip-off for senior night for Rams players and Parents night for all NCU athlete families. The game will also be an opportunity for Rams head coach Jon High to reach 100 career wins at the helm of the NCU men's program as Friday's win moved him to 99-95 at North Central.