Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. ­– The Vikings came out hot Saturday night and the Crusaders never caught up.

Despite seeing senior Kevin Rima score his 1,000^th career point, the Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team didn't have an answer for Western Washington's fast start, falling 86-55 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

"We came out flat and let them get going and just never found our rhythm on either end," said NNU head men's basketball coach Dave Daniels, whose team returns home to host Alaska on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in a game to be broadcast live on ROOT Sports TV.

Thursday's game is a "Black Out" and Crusader fans are encouraged to wear black and come cheer on NNU to victory.

Saturday in Washington, the Crusaders (10-14, 8-6 GNAC) fell behind 12-2 in the opening 4 ½ minutes and never really got going as the Vikings pulled away.

The big highlight of the night was the career milestone for Rima, who with 10 minutes left in the game scored career point 1,000 on a layup for NNU, making the score 61-42.

Rima becomes the 35^th player in Crusader basketball history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. He will be honored in a brief, pre-game ceremony Thursday night at the Johnson Sports Center.

"I just wish it could have come with a win," said Daniels of Rima's 1,000^th career point.

Alex Birketoft and Erik Kinney were the other NNU highlights as Birketoft scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Kinney added 16 points for NNU.

"Very proud of the way Alex played on the offensive end and Erik on the defensive side of the ball," said Daniels, who looking ahead added, "We've got to regroup, refocus and prepare for Thursday."