NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene men's basketball sent their seniors off in style with a 74-62 victory over Western Oregon on Saturday's Senior Night.
The Nighthawks improve to 18-6 overall and 11-5 in GNAC play, keeping hold of second place in the conference standings. NNU also finishes off the home slate with a 14-1 record in the Johnson Sports Center.
With the victory, the Nighthawks clinch a GNAC Championships berth for the sixth-straight season. NNU has two games remaining in the regular season next week that will determine seeding for the tournament.
NNU started the game off hot, with
Sullivan Menard and
Kye Dickson hitting back-to-back triples on the first two possessions.
WOU got on the board with a free throw, but the Nighthawks followed with 10-straight points to take a 16-1 lead on a Biggie Bergersen triple at the 15:23 mark.
NNU kept the pressure on, leading by as much as 24 in the first half at 36-12 with 4:32 remaining. The Nighthawks went into the break up by 22, 42-20.
The Wolves made an effort at a comeback in the second half, cutting the NNU lead down to single digits at 71-62 with 50 seconds left, but that was as close as they would come as the Nighthawks took the 74-62 victory.
Menard led the team in scoring in his final game in the JSC, pouring in 22 points including six threes, along with pulling down six rebounds.
Briggs Ranstrom and
Kye Dickson were next with 12 points each, followed by Biggie Bergersen with 10. Dickson added 14 rebounds for a double-double.
Zane Foster and
Easton Reagan each pulled down eight boards, while
Yaru Harvey led the team with five assists on the night.
Prior to the game, NNU's four seniors Biggie Bergersen,
Yaru Harvey,
Sullivan Menard, and
Zane Foster were honored.
As mentioned, the Nighthawks have just two road games left in the regular season, visiting Simon Fraser on Thursday, Feb. 27 and Western Washington on Saturday, March 1. The GNAC Championships will then take place from March 6-8 in Lacey, Washington.
