NAMPA, Idaho - Northwest Nazarene men's basketball almost completed a late comeback in round two of the United Heritage Mayors' Cup on Wednesday night, but the Nighthawks fell to the NAIA No. 2 College of Idaho Yotes 68-66.
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The Nighthawks fall to 4-4 on the season and remain 2-0 in GNAC play after the non-conference contest.
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C of I started well and would build a nine-point lead at the 6:55 mark of the opening half, 26-17. NNU battled back to cut the deficit to two on a free throw from
Gabriel Murphy, but the Yotes then scored the final six points of the half to take a 36-28 lead into the break.
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The Yotes continued that run into the second half with five straight points to go up by 13. The Nighthawks responded with an 11-2 run capped by a
Nathan Perez triple to cut the deficit to four, 43-39, at the 15:17 mark.
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NNU could not grab the lead, however, and C of I eventually grew their lead back up to double digits at 59-49 with 7:30 to play.
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That was when NNU's
Aaron Murphy came alive, though, spurring the Nighthawks to a 9-0 run. Murphy scored in the post on three-straight possessions, followed by a triple from
Ryzin Bergersen on the next possession to cut the deficit to just one, 59-58, with four minutes remaining.
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NNU just could not find the go-ahead bucket, however, and still trailed by two, 66-64, after another bucket from
Aaron Murphy with 41 seconds to play. C of I was pure from the free throw line after a Nighthawks foul, though, to build the lead back up to four. Bergersen then got fouled on a made layup with 1.5 seconds remaining, but the rebound off his intentionally missed free throw was corralled by the Yotes to end the game.
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Gabe Murphy and
Christian Rose tied for the team lead with 16 points, with Murphy adding seven rebounds.
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Biggie Bergersen was also in double figures with 11 points and added five boards and five assists.
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NNU will now be on the road for a few weeks, visiting Utah State for an exhibition game on Saturday, Dec. 9 and traveling to Westmont on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
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