Box score

An opening half in which they shot only 33 percent from the field hurt the Saints on Tuesday night in Minneapolis as host North Central University held off a second half St. Scholastica rally to grab a 60-56 win.

The Saints (7-11), down six at the half, outscored the Rams 38-36 in the second half behind an improved 44 percent shooting from the floor but it wasn't enough as North Central kept CSS at bay with their own hot hand, improving from 41 percent in the opening 20 minutes to hitting 13-of-26 in the second half.

St. Scholastica held an early lead once in the first half but then trailed the rest of the half.

The Rams built their halftime lead into an 11 point margin before the Saints would cut it to only one point nine minutes later at the 6:19 mark.

Six straight North Central points cut short the rally and the Rams held off the visitors the rest of the way.

Andy Schmitz topped the Saints offense with 11 points while Troy Miller (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) pulled down eight rebounds and registered four steals in the loss.

The Rams were led by Dan Helstrom with 19 points and Ryan Leak who added 15 of his own as well as pulling down a game-high nine rebounds.

The Saints have now lost two in a row as they head back into the conference schedule with games at Bethany Lutheran College and Martin Luther College this Friday and Saturday, respectively.