ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Louie Beech scored a team-high 20 points for Northwest Nazarene, but Central Washington University rallied for a 69-66 victory over the Crusaders on Thursday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game in Ellensburg.

Beech, who hit on four-of-five three-point shots, scored a season-best 20 points with Joel Ryman adding 15.  Ryman also hit four treys as the Crusaders went 11-of-23 from the arc.  The loss drops NNU to 17-9 overall and 9-8 in GNAC play.

Central Washington, ranked 7th regionally, all but assured themselves of a playoff invitation with the win, their ninth in a row.  The Wildcats hit the 20 win mark for the first time in eight years and sit at 20-6 overall and 14-3 in conference play.

Matt Penoncello led all scorer's with 27 points for the Wildcats and Jake Beitinger scored 16 as CWU erased a 10-point halftime deficit (28-38) and would outscore NNU 41-28 in the second half.

Scott Helpenstell led all rebounders with 11, however, the Crusaders were out-rebounded by one, 38-37, and out-scored at the free throw line 20-9.

The Crusaders will wrap up the season on Saturday night at Western Washington University in Bellingham.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.

COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
WEST REGION
NCAA DIVISION II/GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Central Washington 69, Northwest Nazarene 66

NORTHWEST NAZARENE (17-9, 9-8 GNAC) -- Beech,Louie 8-13 0-0 20; Ryman,Joel 4-6 3-4 15; Parnell,Justin 3-8 1-2 9; Helpenstell,Scott 2-4 3-6 7; Roberts,Tyler 2-7 2-2 7; Gielow,Kendall 2-8 0-0 4; Simmons,Jason 2-6 0-0 4; Mgebroff,Matt 0-0 0-0 0; Shildmyer,Adam 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 9-14 66.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON (20-6, 14-3 GNAC) -- Penoncello,Matt 7-16 11-13 27; Beitinger,Jake 5-14 4-8 16; Jackson,Nate 3-8 3-7 9; Woods,Giovonne 4-10 1-1 9; Spevak,Johnny 1-1 0-0 3; Foote,Brandon 1-3 0-0 2; Daub,Bryce 1-5 0-2 2; Monti,Colton 0-2 1-2 1; Monk,Tyler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 20-33 69.
Halftime--Northwest Nazarene 38, Central Washington 28. 3-point goals--Northwest Nazarene 11-23 (Beech,Louie 4-5; Ryman,Joel 4-6; Parnell,Justin 2-5; Roberts,Tyler 1-5; Shildmyer,Adam 0-1; Gielow,Kendall 0-1), Central Washington 5-14 (Beitinger,Jake 2-4; Penoncello,Matt 2-2; Spevak,Johnny 1-1; Foote,Brandon 0-1; Monti,Colton 0-1; Monk,Tyler 0-1; Woods,Giovonne 0-3; Jackson,Nate 0-1). Fouled out--Northwest Nazarene-None, Central Washington-None. Rebounds--Northwest Nazarene 37 (Helpenstell,Scott
11), Central Washington 38 (Penoncello,Matt 9). Assists--Northwest Nazarene 13 (Parnell,Justin 4; Beech,Louie 4), Central Washington 8 (Jackson,Nate 2; Spevak,Johnny 2; Penoncello,Matt 2). Total fouls--Northwest Nazarene 23, Central Washington 19. Technical fouls--Northwest Nazarene-None, Central Washington-None. Att--612.
Great Northwest Athletic Conference game