Ellendale, ND -- Entering the championship round of the NCCAA Regional Tournament, North Central University (NCU) men's basketball played its final game in North Dakota with a matchup versus the #2 Crown College (CC) Polars. With another postseason title on the line, the Rams looked to cap off what had been a dominant regional run with a championship performance. North Central delivered when it mattered most, using a massive second-half surge to claim the NCCAA Regional Championship with a 76-70 victory.

North Central opened the championship game aggressively, jumping out to an early 10-3 advantage behind strong inside play from senior forward Elijah Smith and senior guard Carrington McNeal. Smith knocked down a three-pointer and added a pair of interior buckets while McNeal converted in transition to establish early momentum. Midway through the half, senior guard Jaquan Adams provided a spark off the bench, scoring nine first-half points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance while attacking the paint and knocking down a late three-pointer to keep the Rams within reach. Despite the early surge, the Crown responded with a late scoring run, including several perimeter shots in the final minutes. North Central continued to battle defensively, highlighted by blocks from junior forward Jacob Becher and Carrington McNeal, but entered halftime trailing 35-26.

The Rams flipped the script coming out of the break. North Central erupted offensively, shooting 61.3% from the field in the second half while holding the Polars to just 37.1% shooting. Senior guard Carmello McNeal ignited the comeback early with a series of baskets in the paint and at the free-throw line. Moments later, senior guard Remy Wedgeworth-Brown added another inside finish before junior forward Jax Effertz drilled a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit. The Rams continued chipping away until a pivotal stretch midway through the half. Freshman guard Breven Anderson knocked down a go-ahead three-pointer to give North Central its first lead of the game at 49-48, sparking a decisive run. Soon after, Adams scored inside, and Carrington McNeal converted free throws to extend the lead. From there, North Central maintained control. Carmello McNeal knocked down a key three-pointer during a scoring stretch that pushed the lead to five, while Carrington McNeal threw down an emphatic dunk that energized the Rams' bench and extended the advantage to seven. In the closing minutes, Wedgeworth-Brown and Carmello McNeal calmly sealed the victory at the free-throw line. North Central finished the half with 50 points and closed out the championship victory 76-70. The Rams finished the game shooting 50% from the field (29-58) and an impressive 92.3% from the free-throw line (12-13) while also winning the paint battle with 36 points inside.

Top Performers:

• Carrington McNeal: 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists
• Carmello McNeal: 15 points and 5 rebounds
• Remy Wedgeworth-Brown: 12 points and 4 assists
• Elijah Smith: 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals

Looking Ahead:

Up next, NCU returns home to Minneapolis for the NCCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament, hosted at North Central University in the Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. The #5 Rams are set to take on the #4 Champion Christian College Tigers next Thursday, March 12th, at 2:00 PM.

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