Box Score




NAMPA, Idaho — All a new coach building a team can ask for early in a season are a few moments of greatness and a W.

The Crusaders provided both Saturday afternoon against visiting Cal State Los Angeles, posting a nonconference, 80-75 victory at the Johnson Sports Center in the second game in the tenure of new Northwest Nazarene head coach Scott Flemming.

A special day, as the Crusaders honored legendary NNU player Paul Mangum (138-42) at halftime. 
 

"It's good to get the win," Flemming said as his Crusaders improved to 2-0 on the young season. "We're only 22 practices in with this team and me, so we're going to get better."

The Crusaders showed brilliance on both ends of the floor at times, which helped NNU forged an 18-10 lead on a Bouna N'Diaye 3-pointer 9 ½ minutes into the game, and a 25-13 advantage on a Leeor Konenkov bucket with 9 ½ minutes until halftime.

But the Golden Eagles (0-4), who played three NCAA Division I foes in exhibition contests and were playing their fourth regular-season game, hung tough and actually took a 31-29 lead on a Dushon Carter layup late in the opening session.

NNU managed to clamp down defensively, though, and 3s by Pol Olivier and Detwon Rogers helped the Crusaders head into halftime up, 35-34.

NNU never let the lead slip away again, charging out of the locker room with a 10-2 burst capped by a Mike Wright 3, and going up as much as 65-53 on a Joel Devastey jam with a little more than 7 minutes left on the game-clock.
 

"I thought we had really good ball movement and we ran our offense well," Flemming said, adding, "we ended up with good shots. We got some layups toward the end off little dish-downs. And of course, we got a couple big 3s from Mike and Detwon."

Wright finished with game-highs of 28 points and eight assists, while Rogers added in 15 points and seven rebounds for the Crusaders, who hung on late against a Golden Eagle comeback.

A Joshua Munzon layup in the final minute trimmed the NNU lead down to 76-73, but Rogers hit a pair of free throws and Wright and Olivier each added one apiece to help ice the win.

A victory that sends the Crusaders into Game 2 of the United Heritage Mayor's Cup series at The College of Idaho on Tuesday night with momentum.

NNU, which beat the Coyotes 100-96 in overtime on Nov. 10, will be out for the season sweep of the rivalry series.

N'Diaye added 12 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's matinee victory, while Devastey scored 11 and had five boards for the Crusaders.