Boxscore

GOLDEN, Colo. – A steal by Shakir Johnson with two-seconds to play sealed a 76-74 victory for Metro State College of Denver over Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday afternoon in the Metro/Mines Classic at Lockridge Arena on the Colorado School of Mines campus.

The Crusaders, who finish the pre-season portion of their schedule with an 8-3 record, overcame a 72-65 deficit with 3:09 remaining to cut the lead to one at 75-74 when Drew Eisinger buried a three-pointer with 12-seconds to play. 

Kendall Gielow scored four and Jamie Eisinger added a lay-up in the 9-2 run before Metro State's Reggie Evans made one-of-two free throws with nine seconds to play. 

NNU had a final possession to win or tie, however Johnson came up with the decisive defensive play to give Metro State (10-2) the NCAA D.II West Region victory.

Gielow led the Crusaders with 15 points, while Drew Eisinger and Louie Beech each scored 12.  Jamie Eisinger added 11 points and Brian Barkdoll scored seven and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Brian Minor led the Roadrunners with a game-high 20 points.

The Crusaders continued their hot shooting in Colorado, going 11-of-18 from the three-point line tonight, and finishing the weekend at 19-of-28 (68-percent) from the arc.

NNU will open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next weekend, hosting Seattle Pacific University on Thursday night and Central Washington University on Saturday night in Nampa.