MINNEAPOLIS – After a heartbreaking, one-point loss to open the 2026 conference slate, the University of Northwestern Men's Basketball team had another tough test on Saturday, traveling to preseason-favorite North Central University. Both teams came in with 11 losses, hungry to get their season back on track. The Rams took control early and appeared to be on their way to an easy win, leading by as many as 20 in the second half; but Northwestern clawed back to within four in the final minutes before NCU was able to slam the door shut and win, 84-77, thanks to a combined 46 points from the McNeal twins, Carrington and Carmello.
The early goings were back-and-forth, as
Will Foster (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) scored four quick points off the bench to tie the game at seven.
Jacob Hoefs (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) and
Japheth Nyamari (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) took turns scoring four points apiece to stay within three points at 22-19, but North Central scored the next 11 to extend its lead to 14.
Noah Frazell (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) ended the run and scored UNW's next eight points, but the Eagles struggled to get stops and fell behind by 17 with 90 seconds left before halftime. Northwestern did get some momentum heading into the locker room; however, as a Hoefs layup and an
Isaac Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy) three at the horn got them within 12 at 44-32.
A strong drive by
Ben Tschida (Andover, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) got UNW within 10 in the opening seconds of the second half, but the Rams scored 10 of the next 12 to push their lead to 20. The Eagles began to slowly chip away at the deficit thanks to Foster and Hoefs succeeding inside the three-point arc, and they finally were within single digits with just under 10 minutes to play after a Nyamari three and an
AJ Greene (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) layup. A 9-2 run from Nyamari and Hoefs made it 71-66 with 4:28 and suddenly, Northwestern had some life. The Eagles struggled to get stops against NCU's dynamic backcourt, but Foster stepped in and took a charge with 1:42 left, and
Jonah Burnett (Orr, Minn./North Woods) buried a three on the other end to make it a four-point game. But Carrington McNeal answered with a triple of his own for North Central, and the Eagles were unable to get within one possession the rest of the way despite continued goof offense. Free throws in the closing seconds sealed an 84-77 win for the Rams.
Hoefs scored a team-high 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, while Foster finished with 14 points off the bench. Nyamari posted his second-career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards, and Frazell tallied 11 points, all in the first half. Burnett contributed nine points and five rebounds as the Eagles shot a season-high 46.7% from three.
Northwestern will be back at home Wednesday, January 14
th to take on Martin Luther, who defeated Crown 79-69 on Saturday. Tip-off in the Ericksen Center is scheduled for 7:15 PM, following the conclusion of the women's game.
