MINNEAPOLIS- Men's Basketball got an important home victory over the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Friday night. The Rams survived a physical game by way of balanced scoring and pulled away for an 84-71 win that puts them in a tie at the top of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference standings.

North Central (7-7, 6-1 UMAC) led for much of the first half of a close game before Wisconsin-Superior (Superior, Wis.) made a move to take a 37-34 lead at the break. Over the first several minutes of the second half the Rams fought back to retake the lead and after tying the game at 39-39 with 18:39 to play on a pair of free throws from sophomore Joel Cline (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest), the Rams would never trail again.

North Central methodically took control building a double-figure lead midway through the final half. The Yellowjackets cut an 11-point difference down to just six at several spots but North Central seemed to get a stop or a bucket every time necessary to stem the tide and protect their home court where they remain unbeaten in UMAC play (3-0).

KEY SEQUENCE OF THE GAME

With around six minutes left North Central was hanging on to a 70-64 lead and it seemed the next surge for either team might decide the outcome. After both teams missed scoring opportunities, junior Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./N.E.W. Lutheran) got a steal that led to a missed three point attempt. But junior Isaiah Rustad (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) put back an offensive rebound and get the difference back to eight.

Both teams would miss scoring opportunties again before UWS went 1-2 at the free throw line with 4:04 left. Isaiah Rustad pulled down a key rebound and Travis Voigt made an acrobatic lay-up over two defenders that made it 75-65 with 3:45 remaining. Another Rams stop on defense gave all momentum to NCU who finished off a big win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Friday's game was plagued by a combined 39 fouls (22 UWS, 17 NCU)
• Travis Voigt led the Rams with 19 points
• Senior Cody Martin continued his strong final year with 16 points, 4 assists and 3 steals
• Joel Cline was a factor against a host of Yellowjackets forwards with 15 points and 9 boards
• Jared High (14) and and Isaiah Rustad (11) were also in double-figures
• NCU over game a 40-35 rebound disadvantage by outshooting UWS .452 to .387
• North Central used several zone schemes to produce 14 steals

KEY PERFORMANCE OF THE GAME

On Friday the key performance was less of an individual effort and more about the Rams getting scoring from multiple areas and teaming up on defense to limit UWS to just a pair of double-figure nights.

All five players for the Rams who logged over 30 minutes of playing time. Travis Voigt, Cody Martin, Joel Cline, Jared High and Isaiah Rustad all hit key shots or made plays at crucial moments and made the Rams attack tough to handle.

UP NEXT

North Central hosts The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) at 3 p.m. on Saturday. After the Saints won on Friday to reach 6-1 they will meet up with NCU for a chance to stand alone at the top of the conference standings.