St. Bonifacius, MN -- Saturday, the North Central University (NCU) Men's Basketball returned to Crown College to compete in the 2025 NCCAA DII National Championship game against the #2 seeded Spurgeon College Knights. Heading into this year's championship matchup, the Rams would have their hands full with the Knight's high-powered offense that led the NCCAA in scoring with 104.7 points per game. Tonight, North Central matched and exceeded Spurgeon's offensive attack, scoring 100+ points for the fourth time in March. NCU defeated Spurgeon 101-92 to secure its first-ever NCCAA National Championship. Senior guard, Tanner Holtman, ended his NCU career on an absolute heater, scoring a career-high 33 points on 11-13 shooting from three. His 11 three-pointers set a new school record. 

NCU wasted no time taking control of this championship game, establishing an early rhythm on both ends of the floor. Carrington McNeal got the Rams on the board with a fastbreak layup, quickly followed by a deep three-pointer from Tanner Holtman, setting the stage for what would be an electric night from beyond the arc. Holtman's hot hand was evident from the start, knocking down three first-half triples and igniting a 7-0 run that put NCU up 10-2. The Rams' defensive pressure forced early turnovers, leading to transition buckets from Remy Wedgeworth-Brown and Malik Siggers. Carmello McNeal was a steady force in the paint, securing seven first-half rebounds while adding 11 points, including a critical three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer that extended NCU's lead to 47-39. Spurgeon struggled to find its rhythm in the opening period, shooting just 34.1% from the field and failing to connect on a single three-pointer (0-5). Meanwhile, NCU's efficiency shined, shooting 50% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. The Rams' ability to get to the free-throw line also played a crucial role, converting 12-14 attempts (85.7%). North Central led 47-39 at the half.

The second half belonged to captain Tanner Holtman. The fifth-year sniper caught fire, burying 8 three-pointers in the final 20 minutes, answering every Spurgeon push with daggers from deep. His record-breaking performance peaked when he drained back-to-back-to-back threes midway through the half, pushing the Rams' lead to 18 points at 84-66. Despite a late push from the Knights, which cut the lead to single digits in the closing minutes, NCU's composure never wavered. Clutch free throws from McNeal and Siggers, along with a critical defensive stand from Carrington McNeal, kept Spurgeon from completing the comeback. Wedgeworth-Brown and Carmello McNeal combined for 13 assists, orchestrating an offense that shot a blistering 54.5% from the field in the second half. NCU's defense was equally impressive, forcing 18 turnovers and turning them into 29 points. Fastbreak play was another major factor, as the Rams outscored Spurgeon 22-13 in transition. As the clock hit zero, North Central had won its first-ever National Championship with a final score of 101-92. 

Top Performers:

• Tanner Holtman: 33 points (11-13 3PT), 4 rebounds, and 2 steals
• Carmello McNeal: 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists
• Carrington McNeal: 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals
• Malik Siggers: 10 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals
• Remy Wedgeworth-Brown: 9 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals

Looking Ahead:

This victory concludes a record-breaking 2024-25 season for NCU, finishing with a program-best 21-10 overall record and 10-4 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Along the way, the Rams secured their first-ever UMAC Regular Season Championship, earned the top seed in the UMAC Tournament, won the NCCAA DI North Region Title, and now, they sit atop the NCCAA DII as National Champions.

North Central will bid farewell to 4 seniors, Tanner Holtman, Cameron Thomas, Nik Feller, and Steven Colon.

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.