Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – With every point, Kevin Rima continued to add to a career-best night. And with every point, he helped draw the Crusaders closer and closer.

Northwest Nazarene's 6-foot-7 junior forward from Fairbanks, Alaska scored a career-best 34 points, including seven straight in a late run for the Crusaders who nearly pulled off an amazing comeback against visiting Western Washington.

Unfortunately for NNU, the Vikings hung on for a 91-84 win Saturday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball at the Johnson Sports Center.

"Not satisfied with the outcome, but very pleased with the character and the fight that we showed tonight," NNU coach Dave Daniels said. "Our guys just continued to battle right to the very end.

"Just kept believing, kept believing in each other and kept believing in the gameplan, so I'm really proud of that," Daniels added.

The gameplan turned out to be feed the ball to Rima, and he produce, shooting 14-of-15 from the field in the win. His only miss of the night came on his third attempt, and that shot was blocked by WWU's Anye Turner.

"We anticipated he could have a big night against them with the way they guard the post," Daniels said of Rima. "He's been really maturing, he's been right there.

"And he made five or six really nice passes from the post that were great timing, as well."

It almost proved to be enough, but Daniels adds that an off night shooting the 3-pointer – NNU averages 10.5 3s a game, but went 6-of-25 from beyond the arc (24.0 percent) – hurt.

Still, the Crusaders hit some timely triples, as well, as a pair of 3s by Derek Isaak helped fuel a 20-4 run in the second half, as NNU battled back from a 77-57 deficit.

A Rima bucket with 2:13 to play cut the difference to 81-77 before NNU's comeback ran out of momentum.

A pair of Robert Harris free throws with 9:08 remaining put the Vikings (13-4, 7-2) on top by 20 before the late Crusader charge.

NNU played catch-up throughout, tying it 22-22 on a Pol Olivier 3-point play with 7:19 gone, and trailing just 33-32 with on a Rima bucket with 8:05 to halftime.

The Vikings built a 53-41 lead at the break, and pushed their advantage out to 20 points three times in the second half before NNU's dramatic charge.

"Obviously, we would have like to see a different outcome, but I really believe the way we finished the game gives us momentum going into next Saturday," Daniels said, as the Crusaders next play at Central Washington in a week.

While Rima led the way, Mario Donaldson, Isaak and Michael Loomis all added 12 points apiece for NNU.

Harris led the Vikings with 23 points.