NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team knew it needed to turn up the defensive intensity if it was going to get back to the winning ways it enjoyed early in the season.

The Nighthawks did just that Thursday in an 86-76 victory against Montana State Billings at Johnson Sports Center in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.

"After last game, coach (Paul Rush) came out and said we need to be more defensive," NNU's Sam Roth said. "Defense has to be our focus and we have to have defense be what gets us going. I think we did a better job of that tonight and I think it showed for sure."

The Nighthawks had lost two in a row coming into Thursday's game, and were torched by Central Washington on Tuesday giving up 55 first-half points.

"The focus was getting back to the team we were defensively," Rush said. "Getting back to the effort and intensity that we played with early in the season. We are not tall enough to get away with mistakes."

NNU (10-8 overall, 6-6 GNAC) held Western Oregon to 42.6 percent shooting from the field and forced 15 turnovers. The Nighthawks also played 12 players in an attempt to up the team's energy by offering frequent breathers. Eight players played double-digit minutes and another played nine minutes.

"We wanted to have lots of energy," Rush said. "We told them to play hard and then we'll get you breaks. That was why we played more bodies, which hopefully we can do moving forward."

Maurice Jones had his seventh double-double of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Jayden Bezzant scored in double digits for his sixth consecutive home game, finishing with 20 points, while Obi Megwa added 13 points and Khalil Thompson had 12. Olamilekan Adetunji had four points, 11 rebounds and four assists, as he continued his solid recent play.

"I think it is about time I have to step up and start playing hard," Adetunji said. "Coach tells us every time that the only thing we can control is the effort. Keep the effort going and we will get the win."

 Ending the two-game losing streak was important for the Nighthawks, who face a big weekend at home next week – hosting Simon Fraser on Thursday and league-leading Western Washington on Saturday.

"I think (tonight) sets the tone defensively," Roth said. "We know this works. We got a win out of it. If we make this our calling card, it gets us off on the right foot especially with some tough games coming up."

Zack Rollins scored a game-high 27 points to lead MSU Billings, making 7 of 11 3-pointers before fouling out.