NAMPA, Id. — Northwest Nazarene put together a complete, disciplined performance Thursday night in Nampa, holding off a late surge from Alaska Fairbanks to earn a 74–68 victory in front of the home crowd.
The Nighthawks controlled much of the game with balanced scoring, steady defense, and timely execution in key moments, improving their momentum with another strong showing on their home floor.
The opening minutes were physical and fast-paced, with both teams trading early possessions and battling inside. After a brief early stretch of turnovers and fouls, NNU settled in behind the scoring touch of
Parker Martens, who knocked down an early three-pointer and followed it with strong finishes in the paint.
Briggs Ranstrom provided an immediate defensive presence, recording blocks and rebounds that helped slow Alaska Fairbanks' early attack around the rim.
Easton Reagan and
Jaden Byers added energy off the ball, creating second-chance opportunities and keeping the offense flowing.
As the first half progressed, the Nighthawks began to separate by consistently getting stops and converting in transition. Reagan attacked the lane for multiple finishes and free throws, while Ranstrom added a fast-break dunk that energized the crowd. NNU's defense forced Alaska Fairbanks into contested shots and turnovers, allowing the home side to maintain control despite stretches of missed perimeter looks.
Aaron Murphy capped the half with a strong finish inside, sending Northwest Nazarene into the locker room with a 31–26 lead.
The Nighthawks came out of halftime with renewed intensity, immediately pushing the pace and attacking the basket.
Michael Day opened the second half with a layup, and Byers followed with aggressive drives that led to points and trips to the free-throw line. Reagan continued to be reliable from the stripe, and the NNU lead quickly grew into double digits as the defense tightened.
Parker Martens contributed on both ends, recording a block and later assisting on a fast-break dunk that pushed the margin further in favor of the Nighthawks.
Alaska Fairbanks responded with a push midway through the second half, knocking down key perimeter shots and capitalizing on second-chance points to cut into the deficit. The game tightened as the visitors found rhythm offensively, trimming the NNU lead to just a few possessions with under five minutes to play. Despite the pressure, Northwest Nazarene remained composed, relying on ball movement and interior scoring to weather the run.
In the closing minutes, the Nighthawks executed when it mattered most. Martens hit a crucial jumper during a tied game to regain momentum, while Reagan delivered on the defensive end before converting multiple free throws in the final seconds. Byers added a late three-pointer to give NNU breathing room, and the defense forced turnovers on consecutive possessions to seal the outcome.
Northwest Nazarene's balanced effort, steady free-throw shooting late, and defensive discipline proved to be the difference as the Nighthawks closed out a hard-fought 74–68 victory. The win marked another confident home performance in Nampa and highlighted NNU's ability to stay poised and execute down the stretch against a determined opponent.
The Nighthawks move to a 10-4 record, while getting to 4-1 in GNAC conference play, pushing their way to second in the GNAC standings. NNU continues play next week, as they travel to Montanna to play Montana State Billings on Thursday before traveling to Seattle next weekend.
