Boxscore

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Battling to a 69-69 tie to force overtime, the Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team fell 81-73 at Western Washington on Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest in Bellingham.

Kendall Gielow led the Crusaders (10-8, 2-6 GNAC) with 22 points and five rebounds, while Brian Barkdoll scored 16.

NNU shot 52.7-percent (29-55) from the floor and seven-of-16 from the three point line, but only made nine trip to the foul line (8-9).

Western Washington (13-3, 5-1 GNAC) was led by Ira Graham with a game-high 28 points, while Morris Anderson added 15 and David Brittinen scored 14.  Morris led all rebounders with seven.

The Vikings shot 50.8-percent (31-61) from the field, 35.3-percent (6-17) from the arc, and made 23 trips to the foul line, making 13 for 56.5-percent.

The Crusaders will return to Nampa and host Saint Martin's University next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. MT.

After a brutal January schedule that had NNU playing six of eight on the road, the Crusaders will finish the season with six of eight at home.