NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene men's basketball flew past Alaska Anchorage with ease on Saturday night, defeating the Seawolves 72-51.
The Nighthawks improve to 16-4 overall and 9-3 in GNAC play, keeping hold of second place in the conference standings at just one game back of Central Washington.
Kye Dickson kicked things off with a triple, and Biggie Bergersen followed with back-to-back threes of his own to put NNU up 9-3 just two and a half minutes into the game.
Later in the half, a 9-1 Nighthawks run gave NNU a 14-point advantage at the 8:49 mark, with a beautiful up-and-under layup from
Yaru Harvey capping the run.
NNU's lead extended to as much as 22 in the opening period, coming on an emphatic fast-break dunk from Dickson with 15 seconds before the break. NNU's defense was stellar in the first half, allowing just 16 points for a 38-16 advantage.
The Seawolves had slightly better luck offensively to start the second half, slowly chipping away at the Nighthawks' lead until it was down to 14, 46-32, at the 11:53 mark.
NNU reasserted control, however, going on a 16-6 run to take a 24-point lead, 62-38, with 8:28 to go. Dickson had seven points in the run, and
Yaru Harvey finished it off with a three-pointer.
The Nighthawks cruised from there to take the 21-point win.
NNU was a perfect 19-19 from the free throw line on the night.
Dickson led the Nighthawks with 19 points and six boards, followed by Harvey with 17 points and six rebounds.
Biggie Bergersen added 10 points and five steals,
Sullivan Menard had eight points and four assists, and Teagan Hoard and
Easton Reagan each chipped in six points off the bench.
NNU heads back out on the road next week, visiting Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings on Thursday and Saturday.
