MINNEAPOLIS – Unable to overcome a 16-point halftime deficit, the North Central University men's basketball team lost its 2016-17 home opener Friday night to the Central College Dutch. Three Rams scored in double figures but NCU fell by a final of 75-84.

Central (2-0) scored the first bucket of the game but NCU quickly answered on a Joel Cline (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) jumper in the paint. Both teams again traded baskets before the Rams took their first lead of the game on a three-pointer from Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./Northeastern Lutheran). Less than 20 seconds later, Central drained a three to tie the game and start a 12-0 run. NCU chipped away at the deficit and tied the game again at 22, even taking a 32-29 lead with less than six minutes remaining in the half, but the Dutch surged ahead with a 19-0 run to head into the locker room leading 48-32.

In the first few minutes of the second half, North Central jumped out to a quick start, going on a 9-2 run to pull with nine points, but the rest of the game played like an accordion, with the Dutch stretching ahead with an extended lead before the Rams tried to fight back. NCU's biggest deficit of the night came with 5:16 left in the game, when they trailed Central by 17 points. Thanks in part to a series of three-pointers from Voigt, Cline and Isaiah Rustad (Hudson, Iowa/Hudson), the Rams managed to cut the Dutch lead down to just eight with 24 seconds remaining, but that was as far as the comeback would go and Central solidified the win with a final free throw.

Cline led NCU with 20 points and seven rebounds. Voigt added 18 points, plus five rebounds and three steals, while CJ Lewis (Minneapolis, Minn./UW-River Falls) tossed in another 12 points and three assists for the Rams. As a team, North Central shot 43.5 percent from the field, but struggled at the free throw line, making just seven of 12 (58.3%) compared to Central College's 20 of 23 (87.0%). The Dutch gave up more turnovers (19 compared to the Rams' 10) but dominated the boards with 13 more rebounds and 19 more second-chance points than NCU.

North Central (0-2) returns to Clark-Danielson Gymnasium on Saturday evening to host the Lions from Trinity Bible College (1-3). Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m.