Boxscore

LACEY, Wash. - The Northwest Nazarene University men's basketball team used a 32-8 second-half run to pull away with a 76-59 Great Northwest Athletic Conference road victory over Saint Martin's University on Thursday night in Lacey.

 

The Crusaders (9-5, 1-2 GNAC), who trailed 34-29 at the half and by 11 at 31-42 with 17:17 left to play, ignited the decisive run with a 9-0 spark that included a trey from Lateef Williams, two free-throws from Kendall Gielow, a bucket by Anthony Golden, and a lay-in from Williams to pull within two at 40-42 with 15:17 remaining. 

 

Louie Beech would tie the score at 46-46 with a driving lay-in with 14:13 to play and then knock-down two triples and another lay-in, keying a 13-3 burst which gave the Crusaders a 61-50 lead with 8:33 left.  Drew Eisinger added two free throws to complete the 32-8 turnaround and give NNU the lead at 63-50 with 7:18 on the clock.  The Saints would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

 

Golden led the Crusaders and shared game-high honors with 19 points, while Drew Eisinger and Beech each added 14.  Kendall Gielow scored 13 and had six rebounds. 

 

Beech led the NNU effort on the glass with nine as the Crusaders out-rebounded the Saints 42-40. 

 

David Reeher pulled down a career-high eight rebounds in his first start as a Crusader, finishing with four points, eight rebounds, and one blocked shot.  NNU played without junior post Brian Barkdoll due to an injury suffered in practice this week.

 

The Saints (11-3, 1-2 GNAC) were led by Jared Howard's 19 points, while Jeremy Green scored 18. 

 

NNU held the Saints to 37.5-percent (24-64) shooting from the field, including a 17-percent (4-24) clip from the three-point line.  The Crusaders shot 43-percent (26-61) from the field and 50-percent (6-12) from the arc.

 

The Crusaders will travel to Monmouth, Ore. tomorrow and face Western Oregon University on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. local time.