Ted Hinnenkamp and Dickinson are 7-1 after beating North Central (Ill.) on Friday night. Dickinson file photo by James Rasp

Faced with a battle against one of the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division III programs, the North Central College men's basketball team saw its unbeaten start to the 2014-2015 season come to an end on Friday, as 10th-ranked Dickinson College pulled ahead midway through the second half and defeated the 16th-ranked Cardinals, 80-73, in the Juniata College Comfort Inn Doc Greene Tournament.

North Central (6-1) went back and forth with the Red Devils throughout the first 28 minutes of the contest before Dickinson fashioned a 19-7 surge over a six-minute stretch to move in front for good. Despite facing a size disadvantage at nearly every position, the Cardinals matched Dickinson in rebounding, 26-26. Dickinson, however, enjoyed 54.3 percent shooting accuracy from the floor (25 of 46), by far the best of any North Central opponent this season.

The lead changed hands 15 times in the first half, as neither team led by more than four points. Dickinson's Steve Collins broke a 31-31 tie with a three-pointer with 1:43 on the clock, though Jack Burchett's putback on the next possession closed the gap to 34-33. Gerry Wixted made one of two free throws for Dickinson with just over a minute to play before Erwin Henry was fouled with 54 seconds left and made both shots to knot the score at 35-35. The score remained tied as the teams broke for halftime.

The Cardinals owned a 46-44 lead with 12:33 to play when Dickinson's Robert Picka tied the score with a layup. North Central was held scoreless for the next two minutes while the Red Devils added a layup from Moses Romocki and two free throws from Pete Yingst to take a 50-46 lead. Charles Rosenberg knocked down a free throw for the Cardinals, but two charity tosses from Wixted and a three-point play by Ted Hinnenkamp gave Dickinson its largest lead to that point at 55-47.

North Central's Evan Fendley and David Fuller each knocked down three-pointers to counter the Devils' progress, but Dickinson punched back with seven more unanswered points to take its first double-digit advantage at 64-53 with 6:24 to play. The Devils made 6 of 7 field-goal attempts and 7 of 7 free throws in the deciding rally.

Trailing, 70-59, Rosenberg slashed five points off the deficit as he made two free throws, then came up with a steal and a three-point play in a nine-second span. Dickinson, however, made 8 of 10 free throws in the final three minutes to keep itself out of reach.

Rosenberg led the Cardinals with game highs of 19 points and seven rebounds. Burchett added 16 points, while Henry scored a season-high 11 and Jayme Moten totaled 10 points before fouling out with 4:35 to play. Dickinson (7-1) put five players in double figures, paced by Hinnenkamp's 16.

The Cardinals will play in Saturday's consolation game against Penn State-York. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern time. Dickinson plays home standing Juniata.