Minneapolis, MN -- This afternoon, the North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team returned home to the Clark-Danielson Gymnasium to host a matchup against the University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles for the second time this season. In the previous meeting between these two teams, the Rams fell to the Eagles with a final score of 87-82. Tonight, Northwestern would defeat the Rams once again, finalizing the score at 92-87. Senior Cameron Thomas had a season-high 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Rams. 

The first half of the game began with a slow start for the Rams. They had several missed shots in the paint, including layups and jumpers, which allowed their opponents to capitalize on the glass and in the fast break. Despite lots of challenges, they were able to get some key baskets, including multiple layups by Cameron Thomas and Carmello McNeal. Tanner Holtman also had a couple of three-pointers that benefited North Central offensively. Their defense had moments of success, but they struggled to contain Northwestern's offensive flow, especially as they allowed easy second-chance opportunities and timely three-pointers. The Rams went into the half trailing 51-40.

As North Central returned from the half, they continued struggling to disrupt UNW's offensive rhythm. Despite some missed shots and turnovers, the team capitalized on fast breaks. With 3 minutes to play, the Eagles led by 12 points and seemingly had the game wrapped up. However, back-to-back threes by Tanner Holtman and Cameron Thomas sparked some life into the Rams. Carmello McNeal followed that up with a tough bucket at the rim and NCU found themselves trailing by only 4 points with 2 minutes to go. However, Northwestern continued to find ways to score down the stretch, including a put-back off an offensive rebound. NCU would be forced to foul and the Eagles were successful from the line. Despite their best efforts, including a last-minute comeback, they ultimately fell short, ending the game with a score of 92-87.

Top Performers:

• Cameron Thomas: 16 points and 6 rebounds
• Carrington McNeal: 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists
• Carmello McNeal: 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals
• Tanner Holtman: 12 points and 4 rebounds

Looking Ahead:

North Central remains in the hunt for a top seed in the UMAC standings as they prepare for their next contest. The Rams return home to host the Martin Luther College (MLC) Knights on Wednesday, February 19th at 5:30 PM.

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.