Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho — It proved to be a bittersweet ending: Joel Devastey playing hard while Mike Wright watched from the bench.

The final collegiate game for the two Crusaders seniors Saturday night at the Johnson Sports Center started with a heart-felt thank you and ended with an 80-55 setback to visiting Alaska.
 

Alaska now advances to next weekend's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by St. Martin's, while the Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team saw its season come to an end with Saturday's contest.

Devastey had four points and four rebounds in his farewell.

Wright, who injured his calf in Thursday's game against Alaska Anchorage, watched from the bench, unable to play in the finale.

Their teammates did their best to send the NNU seniors out winners, but the playoff-bound Nanooks were just too efficient early on, using a 26-8 run to stretch a 10-7 lead to a commanding 36-15 edge with 3 minutes left until halftime.

A Bouna N'Diaye 3 early in the second half got NNU (8-18 overall, 4-16 GNAC) as close as 48-27 down, and a late Chris Crawford free throw made it 78-55, but that was the best the Crusaders could do as the Nanooks (21-7, 15-5) never let NNU rally back into the ballgame.

N'Diaye finished with 13 points, five boards and four assists in the season finale, while Detwon Rogers added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Crusaders, who also got nine points from Gonzo Santana.