LACEY, Wash. - Northwest Nazarene men's basketball overcame a late charge by No. 6 Saint Martin's on Thursday night, opening GNAC play with a thrilling 80-79 overtime victory over the Saints.
 
The Nighthawks improve to 3-3 on the season and 1-0 in GNAC play, handing the Saints their first loss of the season as SMU falls to 7-1.
 
NNU came out strong to take a 14-4 lead at the first media timeout with a Gabriel Murphy layup at the 15:47 mark.
 
The Saints cut the lead to three at 20-17 six minutes later, but the Nighthawks responded with seven points in a row to bring the advantage back up to 10.
 
NNU's lead grew to as much as 17 in the opening half after three made free throws from Ryzin Bergersen made it 45-28 with 1:16 remaining. The Nighthawks would then take a 14-point lead into the break at 47-33.
 
SMU quickly cut the deficit to eight to open the second half, but NNU responded with five points in a row to go back up 55-42 at the 14:37 mark.
 
The Nighthawks would lead by as much as 16 points in the second half, but the No. 6 team in the country would not go away and eventually came all the way back to tie the game at 73 with 46 seconds to play.
 
NNU had a chance at a game-winner, but a turnover in the final seconds sent the contest to overtime.
 
Both teams came up empty over the first two minutes of extra time before Easton Reagan drilled a triple to give the Nighthawks the lead. Moments later, Gabe Murphy slipped free in the lane for a thunderous two-handed jam to put NNU up 78-73 with 1:41 remaining.
 
After a three-point play by SMU, Murphy then had a crucial put-back tip-in in the final 20 seconds to put the Nighthawks back up by four. The Saints cut the lead back down to one, 80-79, after three free throws and would get the ball back with six seconds to play following a pair of missed free throws by the Nighthawks.
 
NNU's defense held, as the Bergersen brothers contested a last-second shot by SMU's Jaden Nielsen-Skinner that fell off the rim as time expired.
 
The Nighthawks had the advantage in the rebounding battle at 47-36 and assists at 16-11. The Nighthawks led for 92% of the game and never trailed, with the other 8% of the contest having the score tied.
 
Gabe Murphy led all players with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9-14 from the floor and 6-7 from the free throw line. The 24 points ties his career-best.
 
Tru Allen also had a 20-point game, and was knocking on the door of a triple-double with his 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists along with three steals.
 
Ryzin Bergersen was also flirting with a triple-double, recording 14 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The rebounds and assists marks are both career-highs.
 
Easton Reagan also had the best game of his young career, with the redshirt freshman scoring 10 points and pulling down six rebounds in 31 minutes.
 
NNU will continue GNAC play this Saturday when they visit Western Oregon at 2:00 p.m. Pacific.
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