NAMPA, Idaho — Northwest Nazarene University battled for 40 minutes and showed flashes of momentum on both ends of the floor, but Saint Martin's used efficient shooting and timely runs to pull away late, handing the Nighthawks a 63-79 loss on Saturday night inside the Johnson Sports Center.
The contest opened at a fast pace, with both teams trading perimeter looks early. NNU struck first when
Easton Reagan knocked down a three-pointer less than a minute into the game, but Saint Martin's quickly found its rhythm with multiple early triples to fuel an opening surge.
Despite strong ball movement and early assists from
Jaden Byers, the Nighthawks struggled to sustain offensive consistency as the Saints stretched the lead to double digits midway through the first half.
NNU answered with energy off the bench, sparked by
Aaron Murphy and
RJ Chatman, who provided timely baskets to keep the game within reach. Reagan continued to be a focal point offensively, scoring at all three levels, while
Michael Day protected the rim with multiple blocks to slow Saint Martin's interior attack.
Late three-pointers by Chatman and Reagan helped trim the deficit heading into halftime, but the Saints carried a 42–33 lead into the break after shooting efficiently from beyond the arc.
The Nighthawks came out of halftime aggressive, cutting into the lead with strong defensive pressure and improved shot selection. Reagan opened the half with another three-pointer, and Byers added a deep ball of his own as NNU briefly made it a single-possession game. The Johnson Sports Center crowd came alive as the Nighthawks trimmed the margin to five, showing resilience and composure after trailing for much of the first half.
Saint Martin's responded with poise at the free-throw line and finished through contact in the paint. The Saints used a series of stops and transition opportunities to regain control, pushing the lead back into double figures with just under eight minutes remaining.
NNU continued to fight, with Chatman knocking down another three and Murphy converting at the rim to keep the deficit manageable. Still, Saint Martin's efficiency proved decisive down the stretch. The Saints capitalized on free throws and second-chance opportunities to close out the game, holding the Nighthawks to 34.5 percent shooting for the night.
Reagan led all Nighthawks scorers with 22 points, finishing 7-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range, while also adding six rebounds. Chatman provided a spark off the bench with nine points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc. Murphy added eight points, four rebounds, and three blocks, and Byers chipped in eight points, two rebounds, and a steal. As a team, NNU won the rebounding battle 37–35 and scored 22 bench points, but turnovers and Saint Martin's efficiency at the free-throw line proved costly.
Despite the loss, the Nighthawks showed grit and depth throughout the night, cutting into deficits multiple times and competing defensively until the final minutes. NNU looks to wipe the slate clean as they get ready to play Central Washington on January 31 here in the Johnson Sports Center. The Nighthawks overall falls to 12-6 and 6-3 in conference play here at the halfway mark of conference play.
