St. Bonifacius, MN -- Tonight, the North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team traveled to Crown College in St. Bonifacius for their first game of the 2025 NCCAA DII Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament. They got things started this weekend as they faced their first opponent, the Champion Christian College (CCC) Tigers, which was the first meeting between the two teams. After falling behind 16 points in the first half, North Central kicked it into gear in the second leading to a a big win over Champion, finalizing the score at 105-68.
North Central found themselves in an early hole, falling behind by as many as 16 points as Champion Christian came out firing. The Rams struggled to find their rhythm while the Tigers capitalized on fast-break opportunities and efficient outside shooting. However, North Central responded with resilience, mounting an impressive comeback fueled by stifling defense and timely shooting. Behind the leadership of
Carrington McNeal and
Carmello McNeal, the Rams clawed their way back, erasing the deficit and surging ahead just before halftime. Their defensive pressure forced turnovers, leading to transition points, while their three-point shooting provided the spark needed to swing momentum. By the break, North Central had turned the tide, heading into halftime with a 43-38 lead.
The second half belonged entirely to North Central as the Rams put on an offensive clinic, overwhelming Champion Christian with relentless scoring. The Rams shot a scorching 56.3% from the field in the final 20 minutes, draining seven three-pointers and dominating in transition.
Carrington McNeal led the charge, finishing with 25 points and controlling the tempo, while
Carmello McNeal and
Nik Feller provided additional firepower from beyond the arc. North Central's bench played a significant role as well, contributing 47 points in a well-balanced attack. Defensively, they tightened their grip, holding the Tigers to just 30 second-half points. By the final buzzer, the Rams had turned a once-competitive game into a statement victory, cruising to a dominant 105-68 win.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
North Central will push forward in the NCCAA National Tournament as they face off with the #4 seeded Crown College Polars in a 2024 Championship Game rematch. That game will be tomorrow at 7:15 PM.
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