Box Score NEW ULM, Minn. -- Coming off an exciting matchup last night, the North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team looked to continue their success as they faced off with Martin Luther College (MLC). The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) teams battled for 40 minutes with the Rams overcoming the Knights with a score of 79-68.

Game Recap

NCU worked as a collective unit on the offense end against a high pressure MLC defense. The Knights defended tightly to the ball handler, but the Rams were able to find open shooters on the arc. Micah Filer (Sacramento, CA, Capital Christian School) hit three three point shots in the first half and four came from the rest of NCU's players. The Rams were able to shutdown many MLC plays, but the Knights got a few too many offensive boards for extra chances to close NCU's lead. In spite of that, the Rams stayed up at halftime, 40-34.

Both teams struggled to find the inside of the net in the second half as there were a couple stretches without a basket. The Rams dug in on defense, which eventually turned into offense as they found their rhythm. The three ball in the first half opened the middle of the court for NCU as many Rams were able to drive into the lane and get some easy layups. Throughout the second half, the Knights fought their way back into the game, but were unable to ever get in front. With the minutes winding down, NCU made some important plays on both ends of the floor. Defensively, the Rams forced MLC to take many contested shots without fouling the shooter. Offensively, Justin Castro (Kissimmee, FL, Gateway High School) drove to the rim multiple times to cushion the Rams lead. The Knights hit a pair of wild threes in the last minute to stay alive, but NCU, with a bunch of made free throws, walked out of the court with a 79-68 win.

The Rams complete their weekend moving to 8-7 on the season and 3-2 in the UMAC.

Key Performers

• Micah Filer racked up 23 points and five rebounds for the Rams.
• Jonathan Thompson shot 71% from the field, scoring 13 points.
• Adding 12 points, Justin Castro also had five assists, and four rebounds.

Looking Ahead

Continuing the UMAC weekend scheduling, the Rams will play next this Friday against Northland College for the first time this season. The game will be held on NCU's court starting at 7:15pm. In accordance with the new mandate set by the city of Minneapolis, we ask all fans to wear a mask during the game. Additionally, all fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the men's basketball team and more important information.