ST. PAUL, Minn. – Vibes were high in the Ericksen Center for the University of Northwestern Men's Basketball team's Senior Day game with North Central University. The Eagles were in desperate need of a win over the second-place Rams in order to keep playoff hopes attainable, and got a nice pregame boost when seniors
Japheth Nyamari (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) and
Will Foster (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) performed an impressive rendition of the national anthem, which was met with raucous and sustained applause from the Ericksen Center crowd. The applause faded; however, when North Central began the game up 19-1, a deficit which proved too much for UNW to overcome in a 92-75 loss in the final home game of the 2025-26 season.
Northwestern's lone point of the 19-1 start came from Nyamari, and
Noah Frazell (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock) made the team's first field goal 6:41 into the game. The Eagles tried to claw back into the game as
AJ Greene (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) came off the bench to score seven quick points and pull within 15, but UNW struggled to get stops and rebounds, and soon the deficit was back at 23.
Jacob Hoefs (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) slashed his way to a few inside buckets, and continued scoring from Greene and Frazell brought Northwestern within 14 with 2:27 left before halftime. But a 5-0 run for NCU to close the half made the score 49-30 at the intermission.
Frazell knocked down another three-pointer on UNW's first possession of the second half, but it was the home team's only basket in a 13-3 Rams flurry that extended their lead to 29 points. The Eagles settled in and went on a big run of their own, 20-6, largely due to the play of Greene and Hoefs. Down by just 15 with 12:21 remaining, a sense of hope began to grow in the Ericksen Center. A Foster three and a Greene layup made it a 12-point game with 7:51 left, but North Central slammed the door of opportunity shut with a 9-2 run. Having an answer for every Northwestern bucket the rest of the way, NCU earned a 92-75 win to remain even with Minnesota Morris at 7-3 in UMAC play. With the loss, UNW dropped to 4-7 in the conference, 1.5 games behind Crown for fourth place.
The Eagles' five guards each scored in double figures, led by Greene's 18. Nyamari contributed 16, five rebounds and three assists, while Hoefs finished with 14 points, five boards and three steals. Frazell also scored 14, and Foster posted a line of 11 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. The rest of the team combined for just two points as Northwestern was out-rebounded 39-25 on the afternoon.
While not yet mathematically eliminated from UMAC Tournament contention, UNW will need a lot of help in the next week. After a bye on Wednesday, the Eagles will conclude their regular season at Crown, who currently occupies the final playoff spot, on Saturday, February 21
st. Tip-off in St. Bonifacius is scheduled for 2:45 PM, following the conclusion of the women's game.
