Mankato, MN -- The North Central University (NCU) men's basketball team hit the road Saturday afternoon for another road conference matchup against the Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) Vikings, looking to bounce back after a 0-2 week. Despite stretches of strong offensive execution and balanced contributions, the Rams were unable to overcome a decisive first-half surge, falling 86-69 in Mankato.

North Central opened the game with confidence, as senior guard Remy Wedgeworth-Brown set the tone early by knocking down multiple perimeter shots to give the Rams an early advantage. Senior guard Carrington McNeal added to the momentum with aggressive drives and timely scoring, helping NCU jump out in front during the opening minutes. As the half progressed, the Rams continued to generate quality looks, highlighted by junior forward Jax Effertz connecting from deep and senior guard Carmello McNeal finishing through contact in the paint. NCU forced 6 turnovers and converted them into 16 points off turnovers. Despite the steady offensive rhythm, a late stretch before the break widened the margin. North Central entered halftime trailing 44-28.

NCU came out of the locker room with renewed energy, opening the half on an offensive push led by Effertz, who drained two quick three-pointers to spark a run. McNeal followed with multiple fast-break finishes, and Wedgeworth-Brown continued to attack the lane, trimming the deficit to single digits midway through the half. The Rams showed resilience throughout the second period, scoring 41 points after halftime while shooting just over 40% from the field. Freshman guard Breven Anderson provided a lift off the bench, connecting on multiple three-pointers and finishing with eight points. Graduate forward Josh Hoffman battled inside for 6 rebounds and added interior defense, while NCU's bench accounted for 18 points overall. North Central's ball movement and defensive pressure resulted in 9 steals, keeping the Rams competitive deep into the half, but the early deficit proved difficult to overcome.

Top Performers: 

• Carrington McNeal: 18 points and 4 assists
• Remy Wedgeworth-Brown: 17 points and 5 rebounds
• Jax Effertz: 9 points and 5 rebounds

Looking Ahead: 

Up next, North Central returns to home hardwood to take on the Martin Luther Knights on Wednesday, January 28th. Tip-off is set for 7:15 PM inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium in Minneapolis as the Rams look to defend their home floor and continue UMAC play.

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.