Morris, MN -- The North Central University men's basketball team hit the road on Wednesday night, continuing conference play against the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) Cougars. Coming off a home win over Northwestern, the Rams carried momentum into Jim Gremmels Court and battled for 40 minutes in a tightly contested road contest before falling late, 80-74.

North Central opened the game with strong defensive energy and early shot-making from the perimeter. Senior guard Carrington McNeal knocked down an early three and consistently attacked the paint to set the tone offensively, while senior guard Carmello McNeal added spacing with multiple three-pointers to keep the Rams within striking distance. The Rams weathered early runs and used balanced scoring to stay competitive throughout the half. North Central forced several turnovers and converted in transition, highlighted by finishes from senior guard Remy Wedgeworth-Brown and defensive stops that led to fast-break opportunities. Despite stretches of solid defense, the Rams went into halftime trailing by four at 34-30 after a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes.

North Central came out aggressive in the second half. Carrington McNeal continued to lead the charge, attacking downhill and getting to the free-throw line, where he finished a perfect 8-for-8 on the night. The Rams briefly grabbed the lead midway through the half following a basket by senior guard Jaquan Adams and a pair of free throws from graduate forward Josh Hoffman, showcasing NCU's ability to score inside and out. The Rams' defense created opportunities with eight total steals and six blocks, including multiple stops from McNeal and senior forward Elijah Smith. Down the stretch, NCU continued to battle, knocking down late three-pointers from Carmello McNeal and Hoffman to keep the game within reach. Despite a strong closing effort and efficient free-throw shooting (80% from the line), the Rams were unable to close the final gap in the closing minute. North Central fell 80-74 in Morris. 

Top Performers:

• Carrington McNeal: 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line
• Carmello McNeal: 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals
• Remy Wedgeworth-Brown: 11 points and 3 rebounds

Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central stays on the road for another UMAC test as the Rams travel to take on Crown College on Saturday, January 17th. Tip-off is set for 2:45 PM inside the Crown Athletic Center. 

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.