WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team lost 80-67 to Central Washington on Tuesday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference played in Wenatchee, Wash.

NNU (6-3, 2-1 GNAC) used a 10-2 run midway through the second half to cut a 14-point halftime deficit to six, but Central responded with a 12-3 run of its own to blow the game back open.

"We didn't play at the same level of intensity and urgency we are used to," NNU head coach Paul Rush said, "and it showed in our transition defense and on the offensive glass."

The Nighthawks made just nine field goals in the first half, including shooting 1-of-13 from beyond the 3-point arc. In the second half, they made 4-of-8 from downtown and shot 42 percent overall.

Khalil Thompson made two 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half to help NNU pull within six, but the Nighthawks couldn't get over the hump.

Thompson finished with 22 points and three steals, while Obi Megwa added 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Maurice Jones had eight points and six rebounds and Jayden Bezzant had eight points and two assists.

"Central did a good job of taking us out of what we wanted to do offensively," Rush said, "and forcing us into some tough shots."

The Wildcats (6-4, 2-2) outrebounded the Nighthawks 29-20, including 14-7 on the offensive glass. Central outscored NNU 34-20 on points in the paint.

NNU is off until it plays at Montana State Billings at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30.