MINNEAPOLIS - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team was unable to contain hot-shooting North Central in a 94-87 loss on Wednesday.

The Rams entered the game shooting 33.7 percent from beyond the three-point arc, but made 17 of 28 attempts (60.7 percent) in Wednesday's game.

The two teams were tied 42-42 at the half, and the Knights took control early in the second half on the way to a six-point lead (80-74) with eight minutes to play.

After a 7-0 NCU run erased the MLC advantage, the Knights once again took the lead at 87-85 following a Jack Heichelbech jumper with 2:36 left in regulation.

The Rams seized control of the game from there, however, out-scoring the Knights 9-0 in the final minutes as MLC missed its final six shots en route to the seven-point defeat.

The Knights out-scored NCU 44-30 in the paint and forced 24 Rams' turnovers in the game, but shot 9-27 from three-point range and were unable to overcome the 51-27 NCU advantage from downtown.

Five MLC players finished in double figures, led by Ethan Eisenmann's 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jonathan Riebe and Heichelbech each scored 15 points, while Ian Paulsen and Jared Witkowiak scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. 

MLC fell to 1-5 on the season and 0-3 in UMAC play in defeat. NCU improved to 3-7 on the season and 1-2 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, December 14, when they host Maranatha Baptist in a game scheduled to start at 3 p.m.