NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene men's basketball team lost 72-70 on Tuesday to Central Washington in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.

The Nighthawks struggled with shot making and turnovers down the stretch and it cost them against the Wildcats.

NNU (4-6 overall, 1-4 GNAC) did play a much better game defensively than it did in Saturday's 85-49 loss to Western Washington.

"We played a lot better, it felt like," NNU's Sam Roth said. "We got the shots we wanted, we just didn't knock them down at the end and they got a few easy ones."

NNU took a 64-62 lead on a pair of free throws by George Reidy with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining. Central (8-5, 1-4) then went on a 7-1 run to take control.

Adalberto Diaz missed a 3-pointer, while Kevin Baker drilled one at the other end to make it 65-64 with 3:00 left. Ezekiel Alley was then called for an offensive foul while driving the lane and after a missed Central shot, Roth had a turnover in the lane that led to a breakaway basket at the other end with 2:05 to go.

Olamilekan Adetunji split a pair of free throws to pull the Nighthawks within 67-65, but the Wildcats ran the clock down, missed a shot, got an offensive rebound and ran the clock down again. This time, Davon Bolton hit a tough jumper for a 69-65 lead.

The Nighthawks had one more chance as Adetunji hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left. After a pair of Wildcats free throws at the other end, Jayden Bezzant made a layup with 2 seconds left. Reidy then missed a halfcourt heave as the buzzer sounded.

"I think we are kind of getting back to where we were defensively and we just have to finish a few more plays offensively," NNU coach Paul Rush said. "We are right there. Thursday is our fourth game in seven days and we have to have the mental toughness to play the right way and get after it."

The Nighthawks got big defensive contributions from Adetunji and Zac Furgerson, who were forced to play perimeter defense against Baker and Jeryn Lucas both of whom are big wings that can shoot the outside shot.

Alley finished with a team-high 18 points, while Roth had 11. Adetunji had 10 points and nine rebounds, Bezzant had 10 points, five assists and two steals, Daiz had nine points and Reidy had eight.

The Nighthawks head to Montana State Billings at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"We are young still and trying to figure out how to play together, but we need to figure it out soon obviously," Roth said. "I think we are good enough to beat any team we have played, but it's just about making plays."