MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Northland College Men's Basketball team was defeated 82-62 by North Central University in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action Wednesday night in Minneapolis, Minn.
 
The Rams started the game with a six-point run. Stephen Kesti scored Northland's first bucket after Damian Cejka found him. On the following possession, Donovan Washington hit a three-pointer. A turnaround jumper from Cejka brought the NCU lead down to one. The Rams then pulled to a double-digit lead after a 12-2 rally. Tyler Tuura scored his first points with a layup and completed a three-point play at the line, but back-to-back threes from North Central followed. Despite shooting better than NCU, Northland trailed 23-42 at the half after committing 16 turnovers.
 
North Central scored the first 10 points of the second half to extend its lead. Jahlani Thornton scored the first basket for the Jacks three minutes into the second half. Kesti, on the following possession, converted a jumper. Ari Pierson soon knocked down his first three-pointer of the game. Northland then went on an 18-point run, which started and ended with a Finnley Powell three-pointer. The rally chipped away at the lead, but it was not enough for a comeback, and the Jacks fell 82-62.
 
For the first time this season, Powell led the scoring for Northland with a career-high 12 points. Tuura finished behind him with 11, and Thornton rounded out the top three with nine points. Defensively, Kesti grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Jacks. Ryan Ehlert had the team's only block.
 
The Jacks return home on Saturday as they host Bethany Lutheran College at 1 p.m.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.