SEATTLE, WA – The Northwest Nazarene Men's Basketball team competed on the road on Saturday the 17th against the Seattle Pacific Falcons. In a dramatic late push the Nighthawks took the lead and sealed their 72-71 victory.
The win moves NNU to 11-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
Northwest Nazarene opened the game with a jumper from Jaden Byers, but Seattle Pacific answered with multiple three-pointers to take early control. The Nighthawks battled inside and found a spark from Michael Day, who knocked down a three, while Briggs Ranstrom added a finish in the paint to keep NNU within reach.
Seattle Pacific continued to score efficiently, stretching the lead to double digits, but Easton Reagan provided a lift on both ends with a steal and fastbreak layup. Garrett Hawkes and Byers added key points to slow the momentum, while Reagan later connected from deep to cut into the deficit.
NNU closed the half strong with baskets from Reagan and Hawkes, capped by a late steal and layup from Ranstrom, heading into the locker room trailing 41–30.
Northwest Nazarene came out aggressive to start the second half, opening with back-to-back layups from Jaden Byers and Easton Reagan to cut the deficit. Seattle Pacific answered from deep, but Garrett Hawkes caught fire, knocking down a pair of three-pointers to keep the Nighthawks within striking distance.
The momentum continued to swing as Reagan and Nathan Perez connected from beyond the arc, pulling NNU within two. Seattle Pacific briefly pushed the lead back out, but the Nighthawks responded with strong defense, forcing turnovers that led to fastbreak points. Reagan sparked a key run with a steal and three, followed by a layup and free throw from Aaron Murphy to give NNU its first lead of the half.
After Seattle Pacific tied the game, Hawkes drilled another three to regain the advantage. The final minutes featured multiple lead changes, with Perez and Hawkes each knocking down timely shots. After Seattle Pacific took a one-point lead late, RJ Chatman finished a fastbreak layup at the buzzer to seal a dramatic 72–71 victory for the Nighthawks.
Easton Reagan led NNU with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Garrett Hawkes followed with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
The Nighthawks will be back in the Johnson Sports Center on January 22nd as they go head to head with Western Oregon at 7:30 pm.
