Box Score SEASIDE, Calif. – It was a frantic, and at times chaotic, comeback, and it almost netted the Crusaders a win.
Almost.
The Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team shook off a disappointing first-half effort and chopped 20 points off the Otters lead, only to come up short in its comeback attempt in a 75-68 loss at Cal State Monterey Bay in nonconference action Thursday night.
"I'm really pleased with the heart and determination the team showed in the second half," NNU head men's basketball coach
Dave Daniels said.
NNU (2-9 overall, 1-1 GNAC) trailed 56-32 with 13 minutes left in the game after a Marquise Washington layup for the Otters (5-4), then the Crusaders began their frantic comeback.
A
Matyas Hering 3-pointer capped a 17-2 charge by NNU, which closed to 58-49 down with 7 ½ minutes to play.
Patrick Lefiti answered with a 3, as Cal State Monterey Bay tried to stop the Crusader momentum, but NNU kept coming, closing to 61-56 back on two
Mike Wright free throws, and a
David Shedrick 3-pointer made it a 63-59 ballgame with 4 minutes to go.
But the frantic comeback ran out of steam and the Otters held on by hitting 6-of-7 free throws late to ice the victory.
A victory the Otters earned by forcing 12 NNU turnovers and holding the Crusaders to just eight field goals in the first half, as Cal State Monterey Bay forged a comfortable 38-21 halftime lead.
"We were not sharp on either end in the first half," Daniels said. "We had 12 turnovers and several blown defensive assignments."
Wright led the way for NNU with 18 points and seven assists while
Erik Kinney added 15 points, Shedrick scored 11 and
Kevin Rima led the way on the glass with eight rebounds while scoring six points.
"I was really pleased with the play of
Erik Kinney in the second half, and
Mike Wright had a great game as well," Daniels said.
"We will use the momentum of the second half to springboard off this into Saturday's game at Dominican," the Crusaders coach added.
The Crusaders play one final game before a two-week break for Christmas, visiting Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday at 3 p.m. (MT).
