Indianola, IA -- Friday, the North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team continued its early-season road stretch with a neutral-site matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) Blugolds at the Bruce Wilson Shootout hosted by Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. This would be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Tonight, the Rams battled through a physical, high-tempo contest but ultimately fell 101-58 against the undefeated Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponent.

NCU opened the night looking to push pace early, generating multiple attacking opportunities at the rim. Senior guard Carrington McNeal got the Rams on the board with a tough finish in the lane, and fellow senior guard Jaquan Adams added timely scoring at the foul line, converting early free throws to keep the Rams within striking distance. Senior forward Josh Hoffman provided an energy boost off the glass, securing three rebounds in the opening frame while adding a put-back score moments later. The Rams continued to battle on the interior, with junior guard Jamisen Young attacking the paint for baskets and free throws mid-half. Senior guard Carmello McNeal chipped in with scoring and a defensive steal as the Rams kept generating second-chance looks. Despite stretches of solid ball movement and interior scoring, North Central struggled to convert from deep, going 0-9 from three-point range in the first half. Still, NCU's bench helped stabilize momentum late in the half, with junior forward Jax Effertz finishing inside and senior forward Elijah Smith contributing defensively. The Rams entered halftime trailing 50-27.

NCU opened the second half with renewed aggression. Carmello McNeal scored early on a strong mid-range jumper, and moments later, Carrington McNeal knocked down free throws after drawing contact at the rim. The Rams continued attacking inside as Adams, Young, and senior guard Remy Wedgeworth-Brown kept pressure on the defense through drives and cuts. North Central's bench stepped up in the later minutes, highlighted by junior guard Geovanni Velarde, who delivered seven points on 3-of-6 shooting and buried a late three-pointer. Sophomore guard Sam Almas contributed a five-point burst with a contested three and a strong finish at the rim. Junior guard Leyton Barr added another perimeter bucket, giving NCU three made threes in the second half after the Rams regrouped from a cold start. Despite the Rams' improved second-half efficiency at the free-throw line (6–6), UWEC's inside scoring and transition execution kept the margin steady through the final minutes. North Central closed the night with 32 bench points and 34 points in the paint in the 101-58 final.


Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central remains in Indianola for the final day of the Bruce Wilson Shootout tomorrow, Saturday, November 22. NCU will take on the loser of Simpson College and Dominican (IL) at 1:00 PM at Cowles Fieldhouse.

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