Box Score Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Saint Martin's University opened the game with a 21-6 run, which included hitting seven of their first eight shots, and then held on at the free throw line in the closing minutes to secure an 84-78 victory over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday night at the Johnson Sports Center.

Saint Martin's (2-4, 1-0 GNAC) was led by Jeremy Green who finished with 25 points and nine rebounds and Roger O'Neill who scored 23.  Ryan Votaw also reached double-figures with 16 and Brok Pendleton added 11.

The Crusaders (4-2, 0-1 GNAC) were led by Anthony Golden with 17 and JB Pillard with 16.  Jonathan Hawkins scored 12 and both Jordan Nicholes and Michal Kurimsky added 10.

NNU out-rebounded the Saints 31 to 27, but SMU shot 52.5-percent (31-59) from the floor and handed out 19 assists against just nine turnovers.  NNU shot 48.1-percent (26-54) from the field and 21 of 23 (91.3-percent) from the free throw line, but committed 15 turnovers.

Brady Bomber led all players with seven assists for SMU.

Despite being down by 15 early, the Crusaders rebounded to trail by 10 at the half, 41-31. 

Trailing 69-60 with 6:33 to play, the Crusaders rallied with an 9-2 run that included a three pointer by Andy Maxwell, two free throws and a lay-up by Hawkins and another pair of free throws by Pillard to pull within two at 71-69 with 3:54 left. 

However, the Saints responded and built the margin back to eight at 77-69, running off six-straight on two Green jumpers and a pair of Votaw free throws with 1:46 to go.

NNU wasn't quite done after a Golden three-point play with 27 seconds left pulled NNU to within four at 78-74 and then a Golden triple after two more Votaw free throws made it just three at 77-80 with 18 seconds to play.  But Votaw would again answer the call at the free throw line for Saint Martin's with 10 seconds left to seal the road victory.

NNU will now host Western Oregon University on Saturday evening, tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.