Minneapolis, MN -- North Central University (NCU) men's basketball returned home to Clark-Danielson Gymnasium Friday (12/9) evening. Taking on the Cougars of Minnesota Morris (UMM) in the conference matchup, North Central looked to continue their momentum and win their third straight game. Unfortunately, the Rams would fall at the hands of the Cougars.

With a back-and-forth game between the two teams, NCU was able to build up to a seven-point lead just nine minutes into the game. That would be the end of the Ram's success on the scoreboard as they struggled to shoot the ball all night. NCU had 15 offensive rebounds compared to the Cougars' 4 while also winning the turnover battle 12-7. Numbers like that would lead you to believe that NCU would be able to pull away, but the Cougars continued to shoot at a high percentage. Caden Freetly was the bright spot for Downtown U before the break, leading the team with 9 points and 6 rebounds, with 5 being on the offensive end. However, with the Rams shooting just 27% with the Cougars shooting 55% in the first half, the score would end with a UMM lead of 29-27.

As the second half opened up, NCU looked to capitalize more on their opportunities. Through the first 8 minutes, the story of the game was the same. North Central winning on the boards but continuing to shoot a low shooting percentage. The score remained a one-possession game through that stretch, but it was the Cougars who were able to break that trend. UMM took a six-point lead, but the Rams were able to battle back. In an attempt to take control of the game, Micah Filer caught fire, cashing in on 3 buckets in a row. Even with the hot stretch, Minnesota Morris would not go away. The Cougars managed to get back to a 6-point lead with just 3 minutes left in the contest. The big horn sheep tried to crawl back, but were unable to capitalize in key spots, leading to a Cougar victory. NCU dropped their first conference game on the season with a final score of 59-67. 

Top Performers:

Caden Freetly: 14 points and 7 rebounds
Kayden Sund: 13 points and 8 rebounds
Zach Kjeseth: 7 points and 7 rebounds

Looking Ahead:

NCU will take on Crown College tomorrow back at Clark-Danielson Gymnasium in a big rivalry matchup.

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