ALAMOSA, Colo. — Northwest Nazarene delivered one of its most complete offensive performances of the season Saturday night, shooting efficiently from the perimeter and battling on the glass, but ultimately came up just short in a hard-fought 100–90 road loss at Adams State.
The Nighthawks knocked down 12 three-pointers and shot 44.6 percent from the field, keeping pressure on the Grizzlies throughout the night. NNU's ability to extend possessions proved critical, as the Nighthawks grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and finished with a 41–37 advantage on the boards, showcasing their physicality and effort against a deep Adams State lineup.
Northwest Nazarene wasted little time setting the tone. Parker Martens ignited the offense early, drilling back-to-back three-pointers in the opening minute to give NNU a quick 6–0 lead. Briggs Ranstrom followed with a triple of his own, as the Nighthawks attacked with confidence and spacing.
Inside, Aaron Murphy established a strong presence on the glass, creating multiple second-chance opportunities and keeping NNU possessions alive. The Nighthawks were active defensively as well, forcing turnovers and contesting shots, with RJ Chatman and Michael Day each coming up with key steals and blocks to disrupt Adams State's rhythm.
Midway through the half, Adams State began to find momentum, capitalizing on transition opportunities and free throws to create separation. Despite the shift, NNU continued to battle. Ranstrom knocked down two three-pointers in the half and led the Nighthawks offensively, while Kyelin King attacked the paint and consistently got to the free-throw line, providing stability during stretches when momentum began to swing.
NNU closed the half with strong effort, trimming the deficit late at the line, but headed into the locker room trailing 48–37 while holding an edge in offensive rebounding and second-chance points.
Coming out of halftime, the Nighthawks showed renewed energy on both ends of the floor. Martens stayed locked in from deep, connecting on timely three-pointers and spacing the floor for NNU's attack. He finished the night with a team-high 22 points, shooting an efficient 8-of-11 from the field and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Ranstrom continued to impact the game in multiple ways, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Garrett Hawkes provided a steady spark on both ends. Hawkes filled the stat sheet with 15 points, four assists, and two steals, creating offense in transition and making plays defensively when NNU needed stops.
Kyelin King added 14 points and five rebounds, consistently attacking downhill and converting through contact. His aggressiveness helped the Nighthawks stay within reach during key stretches of the second half.
Midway through the period, NNU put together one of its best runs of the night. Defensive stops led to transition opportunities, Hawkes converted an and-one, and Ranstrom buried another three to cut into the deficit. Easton Reagan added energy off the bench, attacking the basket and knocking down free throws to keep momentum alive.
Down the stretch, the Nighthawks continued to pressure defensively, finishing the game with eight steals and three blocks. NNU scored 38 points in the paint and added 17 points off turnovers, reflecting the team's aggressive approach on both ends of the floor.
Late buckets from Martens and King pulled NNU within single digits in the final minutes, but Adams State was able to close the game at the free-throw line, securing the 100–90 final.
Northwest Nazarene's balanced effort stood out, with five players scoring in double figures and the team shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range. The Nighthawks' work on the glass and ability to generate extra possessions kept the contest competitive throughout and highlighted the team's toughness on the road.
The Nighthawks fall to 8-3 as the team gets to go home for a short winter break before returning shortly after Christmas as they prepare to continue GNAC conference play in the new year as they head to Ellensburg, Washington to take on Central Washington on January 3rd.
