NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene men's basketball suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime on Thursday night, falling to Western Washington 96-91.
The Nighthawks fall to 11-12 on the year and are now 8-7 in GNAC play with three games remaining in the regular season.
How It Happened
WWU scored the first eight points of the game, but NNU rallied right back for the next 14 capped by a jumper from
Kobe Terashima at the 11:13 mark.
The Nighthawks held the lead right up until the end of the opening half, when the Vikings converted two free throws with 15 seconds left to head into the break up 37-36.
NNU was able to pull away early in the second half, using a 6-0 run to go up 56-48 at the 13:10 mark. The Nighthawks kept that lead for most of the rest of the game before going up nine at 72-63 after a pair of
Tru Allen free throws with four minutes remaining.
The Nighthawks still led by seven, 79-72, with a minute to play, but the Vikings would go on an 11-4 run to close out regulation and send the game into overtime tied at 83. The run included a jumper and then back-to-back-to-back triples with NNU going 4-6 from the free throw line during the stretch.
NNU took a quick three-point lead moments into overtime, but WWU responded with seven unanswered points to go up 90-86 with 2:34 to play. An Allen triple cut the deficit to one, but the Vikings answered with another triple of their own, and made their free throws in the final minute to take the five-point win.
Nighthawks Notes
- NNU shot 50% from the field, but WWU countered with a blistering 56.7% (17-30) from deep
- The free throw line was a difference in the contest, with WWU going 19-22 (86.4%) and NNU making 18-32 (56.3%)
- The Nighthawks won the rebounding battle 41-36, points in the paint 48-20, and blocks six to three
- Gabriel Murphy had 24 points on 9-14 shooting along with six rebounds and two blocks
- Aaron Murphy added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds
- Tru Allen had 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals
- Ryzin Bergersen poured in 18 points, while Kobe Terashima added 12 points, three assists, and three steals
- NNU still holds fourth place in the GNAC standings with three games to go, but would fall into a tie with Western Oregon if the Wolves defeat Alaska Fairbanks later tonight
Next Up
NNU will host Simon Fraser on Saturday night in their final home game at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Sports Center. After that, it's off to Western Oregon and Saint Martin's next week to close the regular season.
