Nathan Roeder averages 24.6 points per game for North Central (Minn.). North Central file photo

After experiencing their first two game losing skid of the season in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play, the Rams came into Saturday's matchup with Crown looking for a change in momentum. They got just what they were looking for in a team victory that was punctuated with Nathan Roeder eclipsing 2,000 career points and hitting a last-second jumper that stood as the game-winner. Several other players had important contributions as the Rams got a 78-76 victory over the Storm.

After North Central (12-8, 7-3) lost to the University of Minnesota-Morris at home on Friday night, the Rams had lost two in a row for the first time in conference play. With their long time rival, and now conference foe, Crown on the slate for Saturday, the Rams knew it would be tough to get back in the win column. When the Storm defeated the top team in the conference on the road on Friday, NCU also learned that their opponent would fired up and ready to go.

Things were made more challenging because junior forward Bryce Burkman learned an injury in Friday's game would potentially keep him out the rest of the season. Burkman is tied as the the Rams third leading scorer and top rebounder (13.1 PPG/7.4 RPG). That loss down low was felt even more as the Storm would be bringing in the UMAC's top rebounder (11.6 RPG) and third leading scorer (17.9 PPG) in 7 ft, 1 in. forward Anthony DiLoreto.

From the outset it was clear Saturday's matchup would be a classic in the rivalry between these two long time opponents. NCU was able to get up by as many as 10 in the first half with Crown (9-12, 4-6) answering each time including closing the half on an 8-0 run to cut the Rams lead 33-31 at halftime.

The Rams got a great first half performance from junior Ben Peters who scored 10 points in the opening 20 mintues on the way to a career best 16 points in the game. He was also responsible for doubling up on DiLoreto and held the excellent big man to just two points and four rebounds after picking up two fouls in nine minutes of action.

Roeder had nine points at halftime needing just one more field goal to get to the 2000 point mark for his career. 

The game would turn into a seesaw affair in the second half with momentum changing hands throughout the final 20 minutes. Nathan Roeder got over the 2000 point barrier with a driving lay-up at the 15:10 mark that gave NCU a 37-35 lead. That lay-in would be the start of a 23 point second half outburst for Roeder.

The two teams would battle to a tied score 11 times with Crown taking their only lead on a three pointer with 8:43 left in the game that made it 56-55. NCU would take the lead back on the next possession with a pair of free throws from Nathan Roeder. 

It looked like the Rams had earned a bit of space after Ben Peters connected on a pair of free throws to make it 73-67 with 2:10 left but Crown responded again to eventually tie the game. Anthony DiLoreto made a basket, was fouled and converted a free throw to equalize at 76-76 with just 18 seconds left.

Thats when Nathan Roeder got the inbounds pass and went to work. After nearly losing his dribble bringing the ball over half court, Roeder got to the right elbow and rose up to drill a pull up jumper with less than 4 seconds left.

Intelligently, he got back on the defensive end to deflect a long pass out of bounds with less than a second left. Crown got a decent attempt at an alley-oop lay-up on the inbounds play but it was denied and NCU escaped with the win.

Roeder's stat line included a game high 32 points and six assists while going 6-for-6 from the free throw line. But Roeder's work would have been in vain without the huge effort of junior Jordan Harrell who posted a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds that was essential to the Rams victory.

Ben Peters also pulled down six rebounds to go along with his career best 16 points.

The victory moves NCU to 7-3 in UMAC action and keeps them in a tie for second place in conference standings.

Nathan Roeder now stands at 2021 career points which places him third all time in the North Central Men's Basketball record books. He needs just 14 points to move into second place. The NCU all time scoring record is 2047 set by Kenya Jackson from 1988-92. Roeder already owns the Rams career assist and made free throw record.