MANKATO, Minn.-- Men's Basketball suffered a 78-75 set back to Bethany Lutheran College on the road on Saturday. The Rams built a first half advantage but the Vikings used a distinctive rebound advantage to create extra chances that proved to be the difference in North Central's first conference loss of the year.

North Central (6-7, 5-1 UMAC) built a double-figure lead late in the second half before the Vikings began a rally that spanned the halftime break. The Rams led 32-18 with 2:38 to go in the first half, the largest advantage for either team in the game. BLC then went on a 12-0 that included their first bucket of the second half and they carried that momentum throughout the rest of the game.

The teams went back and forth throughout the first three minutes of the second half before it looked like NCU had regained control, taking a 49-38 lead with 14:45 left. But the host Vikings outscored the Rams by 14 over the final 14 minutes to hand North Central their first loss of the season.

North Central had the ball, down 76-73 with 16 seconds left and missed three pointer was rebounded by Isaiah Rustad (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson) and put home to get within 76-75. Bethany converted free throws with 2 seconds left to seal the win.

KEY SEQUENCE OF THE GAME

North Central had many opportunties to run away from the Vikings and continue their unbeaten start to UMAC play but the biggest minutes of the game might have been the two in the first half. After NCU built a 14 point lead, Bethany scored 10 unanswered to get back in the game and head to the lockerroom down just four.

The momentum swung after three fouls were called on NCU in less than 20 seconds of game time, including an offensive foul that wiped away a made Rams basket. Bethany got hot ending the half shooting 4-4 on four straight possessions. Though NCU would reestablish a double-figure lead in the second half, that would have been a lead of over 20 if North Central had maintained their focus late in the first half.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• North Central outshot the Vikings .483 to .424 including a .417 to .294 advantage from the three point line
• Bethany overcame the shooting difference by scoring 15 points off 15 offensive rebounds
• The Vikings also enjoyed free throw advantage, converting more foul shots (23) than the Rams attemped (14)
• Despite Bethany 21 turnovers and just 8 Vikings, North Central had 18 turnovers of their own and 19 assists were not enough to change momentum in the game

KEY PERFORMER OF THE GAME

Freshman Jared High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) led four Rams in double figures with 14 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists despite being saddle with foul trouble. He was an efficient 5-7 from the floor with just two turnovers in 31 minutes.

When he fouled out with four minutes left and the Rams down four, the Rams lost a key three point threat and their top rebounder on the night.

UP NEXT

The Rams come home next weekend looking to stay among the top teams in the UMAC standings when they host two of the better teams in the league. Friday NCU hosts The University of Wisconsin-Superior (Superior, Wis.) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday the Rams will host The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) at 3 p.m.