ASHLAND, Wis. – The Macalester College men's basketball team closed out 2018 on a winning note, defeating Northland College, 65-61 Sunday afternoon at Northland. The Scots improve to 3-7 on the season with the win, while the Lumberjacks fall to 3-9.

Macalester trailed by as many as six points in the first half, as Northland eventually took a 30-25 edge into halftime. The Scots shot 40.0 percent from the field compared to 42.3 percent for the Lumberjacks. Early in the second half, a three-pointer from sophomore guard Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) and baskets by sophomore center Jackson Henningfield (Lake Mary, Fla./Lyman) and first year guard Eric Sathy (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead) put Macalester on top, 34-33 with 16:18 on the clock.

A 15-6 Macalester run buoyed by eight points from Henningfield gave the Scots their largest lead, 49-43 with 7:23 to play. But Northland battled back, using a 12-5 run capped by a conventional three-point play from Modesta Britten to lead 55-54 at the four-minute mark. Ramos responded with a layup and free throw, and Henningfield drained a three to regain the upper hand, 60-55. A three-pointer from Ben Arqueros Jr. brought the Lumberjacks to within two points in the final 20 seconds, but Sathy hit a pair of free throws and the Scots held on for the road victory.

Henningfield led all players with 22 points to go with nine rebounds. Ramos was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field en route to a career-best 14 points and four assists, while senior forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) grabbed 14 rebounds to go with 10 points and three assists. Macalester shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half while holding Northland to 34.3 percent shooting after halftime. Benny Larry Jr. led the hosts with 14 points.

The Scots return to MIAC action on Wednesday, Jan. 2 with a league game at Concordia College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.