LACEY, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene University men's basketball team's playoff hopes came to an end Thursday with a 71-64 loss to Saint Martin's in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Saint Martin's used a late 11-2 run to break a 60-60 tie. Maurice Jones had hit two free throws and a 3-pointer to tie the game, but SMU quickly pulled away with three minutes left.

"I was really proud of our defensive effort in the first half," NNU coach Paul Rush said. "I thought the guys were focused and gave a great effort.

"We had some lapses in the second half that hurt us and Saint Martin's did a good job exploiting them."

Jones finished with 15 points and five rebounds to lead the Nighthawks (12-13 overall, 8-11 GNAC). Jayden Bezzant and Olamilekan Adetunji added 12 points each, as Adetunji also grabbed nine rebounds. Obi Megwa added 10 points and Marko Lepovic had seven points and seven rebounds.

NNU closes its season at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.