ANKENY, Iowa-- Things looked dire for Men's Basketball in Thursday's National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament opening round. But the Rams found a way to rally on the back of one of the great single game, post-season performances in NCU history, defeating Arlington Baptist College, 117-108 in overtime.

North Central struggled through the first half and stumbled through the early stages of the second half before they forged a comeback. Arlington Baptist College (Arlington, Texas) did everything right for the first 30 minutes including holding the Rams to just .281 shooting in the first half. The Patriots led 48-25 at the break and it looked bleak for the Rams.

Arlington led by as many as 24 in the game before the Rams trimmed the margin all the way down to 64-54 with 12:09 left. Arlington pushed the difference back out to 84-66 with 6:23 to go but North Central hung in and turned a slim chance into single digit game with under four minutes to play.

KEY SEQUENCE OF THE GAME

A pair of three pointers from junior Travis Voigt (Green Bay, Wis./N.E.W. Lutheran) wrapped around a lay-up from the Patriots got the Rams within 93-87 with 2:58 left. The Rams got a stop on defense and freshman Jared High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) hit a pair of free throws and then nabbed steal. Voigt was fouled and also hit both free throws and the Rams were within 93-91 with 1:56 to go.

Both teams traded turnovers over the next 40 seconds and Travis Voigt got back to the free throw line where he tied the game at 93-93. After another stop on defense, Jared High sunk another pair of free throws and the Rams grabbed their first lead of the game with 53 seconds in the game.

ABC completed an old-fashioned three point play to retake the lead on their next trip to take a 96-95 lead. The Rams missed a good look on their next possession and the Patriots went 1-2 at the free throw line with 17 seconds to play. It looked grim for NCU after a turnover with 15 seconds left but the Patriots missed both free throws after a quick foul and the Rams hopes stayed alive.

NCU grabbed the rebound, made two passes and got a lay-up from sophomore Joel Cline (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) to tie the game up at the buzzer. That momentum carried into overtime and North Central finished off the win in the extra five minute period.

KEY PERFORMERS OF THE GAME

Jared High and Travis Voigt posted what are likely to be two of the more memorable performances of the NCCAA Tournament on Thursday. High posted 39 points with 4 rebound and 4 steals after picking up three fouls in the first half. That point total is the sixth best single game in NCU history and a program record in the NCCAA Tournament.

Travis Voigt filled up the stat sheet with a triple double of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. All five Rams starters reached double-figures including senior Cody Martin (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) who posted 19 points and 5 assists. Joel Cline impacted the game with a double double of 15 points and 12 rebounds while senior Josh High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) added 12 points.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• After being outscored by 23 in the first half the Rams scored an amazing 72 points in second half to push the game into overtime
• After shooting just 9-32 (.281) in the first half, North Central completely turned it around firing 24-39 (.615) in the second half
• NCU scored just 25 points in the first half but posted 20 points in the 5 minute overtime period
• As the pressure built late in the game NCU was clutch at the free throw line and shot 24-28 (.857) at the line for the game while ABC was just 18-28 (.643)

UP NEXT

North Central moves on to the NCCAA final four on Friday. They will face a tough task if they hope to advance to Saturday's national championship game. The Rams take on top seed Hillsdale Freewill Baptist College (Moore, Okla.) at 5:30 p.m. The Saints advanced to the national semi-final with an impressive 109-92 win over eight seed Johnson University (Knoxville, Tenn.).