BILLINGS, Mont. – The Crusader refused to let this win slip away.

The Northwest Nazarene men charged into the lead midway through the second half, erasing a 12-point deficit, then used a late defensive stand to hold on for a 63-61 road win over Montana State Billings in Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball Saturday night.

"I thought the guys really rose up in the face of some real serious challenges with Mario (Donaldson) and Josh (Amey) being out today," said NNU coach Dave Daniels, whose team played without starters Donaldson and Amey, sidelined temporarily by injuries.

The host Yellowjackets then added to that adversity with a strong start, putting NNU in a 10-0 hole out of the gate and a 19-7 deficit with 8:36 remaining in the first half.

But the Crusaders put together a 10-2 charge late in the first half, a run capped by a Matyas Hering 3-pointer, to trim MSU Billings' lead to 29-27 at the break.

"It was really defending and rebounding, defending and rebounding," Daniels said, "we preach that if you defend and rebound you can win on nights when you don't play well offensively."

NNU won the battle of the boards 29-26 and held MSU Billings to 38.2 percent (21-of-55) shooting.

Still, the 'Jackets clung to their tenuous lead, and stretched it to 42-34 with 13:10 to play on a Marc Matthews layup before the Crusaders made a decisive charge.

Pol Olivier scored five straight for NNU (2-6 overall, 1-1 GNAC), then Derek Isaak's 3 tied the game, 42-42, and started a battle to the finish line.

"We've been talking about those lapses we have, and we have a young team and different guys playing and that can happen" Daniels said, as second-half lapses have been costly for the Crusaders.

Thursday night, NNU led No. 16 Seattle Pacific 31-27 at halftime, and trailed just 46-45 with 9:15 left before the Falcons pulled away late.

"We called a time out and talked about (second-half lapses) and I think the guys really rose up and finished it."

A Michael Loomis' 3 with 7:01 to play gave the Crusaders their biggest lead of the night, up 55-51, before the Yellowjackets (4-4, 1-1) answered and took a 61-57 lead on two Kalon Hatcher free throws with 2:21 to play.

Not to be denied, Matyas' fourth 3-pointer of the night cut the margin to one, then Kevin Rima's layup with 1:36 to play gave NNU the lead for good, 62-61.

Rima added one more free throw before NNU turned in a final defensive stop to seal the victory.

Hering led the way with a game-high 20 points – a career high for the junior from the Czech Republic – while redshirt freshman Isaak added a career-high of 15 points, all on 3-pointers.

"Matty stepped up and played fantastic on both ends," Daniels said of Hering.

As for Isaak, who got his first collegiate start at point guard and finished with six assists and no turnovers, Daniels added: "he just took care of the ball and hit shots and got us into our stuff."

Loomis tossed in 12 points in the win and Rima had nine points and 13 rebounds for the Crusaders, who now return home to host The College of Idaho on Tuesday night at 7 in the second game of this year's United Heritage Insurance Mayor's Cup Series.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the evening's festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-game concert by Nampa's High Street Band.

Tickets are still available by calling the NNU athletic department at (208) 467-8876, or at the door.

Matthews scored 13 to lead the Yellowjackets.