Minneapolis, MN – Saturday, the North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team tipped off the 2025-26 season with their home opener, hosting the Bethel University (BU) Royals in a non-conference matchup inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. The Rams entered the year eager to set the tone early, looking to showcase their depth, defensive energy, and scoring versatility against a tough Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opponent. Last season, North Central earned the upper hand in Arden Hills, and this year's contest was another thrilling back-and-forth battle that came down to the wire. Despite a furious second-half rally, the Rams fell just short, 89-86.
The Rams came out firing with senior guard
Carrington McNeal finding his brother, senior guard
Carmello McNeal, for a fastbreak layup just seconds into the game. Moments later, senior forward
Josh Hoffman added another finish in the paint, helping NCU take a 4-0 lead. Senior guard
Remy Wedgeworth-Brown and senior forward
Elijah Smith sparked early defensive energy, forcing turnovers and keeping Bethel off balance.
Carrington McNeal connected from beyond the arc off a feed from Smith to extend the Rams' lead, but the game quickly evolved into a tightly contested exchange of scoring runs. Junior guard
Jamisen Young entered off the bench and immediately made an impact, scoring through contact and converting free throws to keep the Rams within striking distance. Senior guard
Jaquan Adams added a pair of trips to the line, while sophomore guard
Brody Wishart provided a boost with a timely three-pointer late in the half. Despite leading by as many as 5 early, the Rams faced a hot-shooting stretch from the Royals, who knocked down 7 first-half threes. NCU stayed within reach behind balanced scoring, with
Carmello McNeal leading with 11 points before the break and persistent drives that resulted in 14 first-half free throw attempts. North Central entered halftime trailing 45-36.
North Central came out of the locker room with renewed energy. Hoffman opened the second half with a strong layup off an assist from Wedgeworth-Brown, setting the tone for a Ram resurgence.
Carmello McNeal and Wedgeworth-Brown soon caught fire, combining for back-to-back three-pointers to ignite the home crowd and trim the deficit. The Rams' offense began to click, as
Carmello McNeal relentlessly attacked the basket, scoring in transition and on strong drives to the rim. Young continued his efficient play, scoring 10 of his 16 points after halftime, including a key fastbreak three that cut the lead to single digits. Behind McNeal's leadership and Wedgeworth-Brown's playmaking, NCU found a rhythm, outscoring Bethel 50-44 in the second half. In the closing minutes, North Central mounted a dramatic comeback. With under two minutes remaining, the McNeal twins slashed through the lane for 3 consecutive layups to bring the Rams within two at 88-86. After a defensive stop, Young tipped in a missed shot to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds. Despite the surge, the Rams' last-second three-point attempt narrowly missed as time expired, falling 89-86 to the Royals.
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Looking Ahead:
Up next, North Central will remain at home for another non-conference matchup as they host Hamline University on Wednesday, November 12th, inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM in Minneapolis.
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