De Pere, WI -- North Central University (NCU) men's basketball returned to the Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center on Tuesday evening for the consolation game of the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament, matching up with a familiar non-conference opponent in the St. Olaf College (STO) Oles. Coming off a tough result the night before, the Rams looked to respond with renewed energy and a complete 40-minute effort to close out the 2025 calendar year. North Central showed resilience throughout the night, battling back from a first-half deficit and pushing the game down to the final possession, led by another strong scoring performance from senior guard Carrington McNeal.

North Central settled in defensively early but found offense hard to come by in the opening minutes. Senior guard Carrington McNeal and junior forward Jax Effertz helped the Rams stay within striking distance, with Effertz knocking down early perimeter shots to stretch the defense. Despite solid ball movement, North Central shot just 29% from the floor in the half (9-of-31), allowing the opposition to gradually build separation. The Rams continued to attack the paint and generate opportunities in transition, highlighted by fast-break finishes from junior guard Jayden Livingston and Effertz late in the half. NCU forced multiple turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities, but a late three before the buzzer extended the margin. The Rams went into the locker room trailing 32-24 at halftime.

North Central came out of the break with renewed intensity, shooting 44.1% in the second half and trimming the deficit through defensive pressure and transition scoring. Senior guard Carmello McNeal sparked an early run with back-to-back steals and layups, while senior guard Remy Wedgeworth-Brown added energy on both ends, dishing assists and finishing strong at the rim. Effertz was steady from deep, finishing the night 3-of-5 from three-point range, and North Central continued to close the gap midway through the half. The Rams made it a one-possession game multiple times in the final minutes behind aggressive drives from Carrington McNeal, who consistently got to the free-throw line and finished with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting. North Central outscored St. Olaf 42-37 after halftime and shot 90% from the free-throw line in the second half. The Rams also held advantages in fast-break points (17) and points in the paint (32), showcasing their ability to apply pressure offensively. Despite a late surge and a last-second three, NCU ultimately came up just short 69-66 at the final horn.

Top Performers:

• Carrington McNeal: 18 points and 4 rebounds
• Jax Effertz: 11 points and 4 rebounds
• Carmello McNeal: 11 points and 3 steals

Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central returns for their conference home opener as they host the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Wednesday, January 7th. Tip-off is set for 7:15 PM inside the Clark-Danielson Gymnasium in Minneapolis.

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on men's basketball and all things NCU Athletics.