ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Northwest Nazarene battled through a difficult first half before putting together an inspired and competitive second-half performance, cutting into a large deficit and showing resilience before ultimately falling to Central Washington, 63-75 in GNAC action.
The opening half proved challenging for the Nighthawks, as offensive rhythm was hard to come by against an aggressive Central Washington defense. NNU was held to just two points over the opening five minutes while the Wildcats capitalized on transition opportunities and interior scoring to build an early advantage. Despite the slow start, the Nighthawks remained active on the glass, with Briggs Ranstrom and Aaron Murphy creating extra possessions through offensive rebounds.
Easton Reagan provided an early spark for NNU, attacking downhill and scoring at the rim to help stop extended runs. Parker Martens and RJ Chatman worked to stabilize the offense as the half progressed, while Michael Day added defensive energy with timely rebounds and deflections. Ranstrom was effective at the free-throw line, accounting for several of NNU's early points and keeping the Nighthawks within reach during stretches when scoring was limited.
Central Washington continued to apply pressure defensively, forcing turnovers and converting at the free-throw line to extend the lead. NNU closed the half with improved ball movement and defensive stops, but headed into the locker room trailing 44–22 after being held to 31.0 percent shooting from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Coming out of halftime, the Nighthawks responded with renewed energy on both ends of the floor. Martens opened the second half with an aggressive drive to the basket, setting the tone for a more assertive offensive approach. Michael Day followed with points at the free-throw line, while NNU's defense began to generate steals and limit transition opportunities.
Reagan led the second-half surge, consistently attacking the rim and finishing through contact. He poured in a game-high 24 points, scoring at all three levels and providing a steady offensive presence throughout the period. Ranstrom continued to anchor the effort on the boards, finishing with 14 rebounds to go along with 13 points, recording a double-double and controlling the paint on both ends of the floor.
Midway through the half, NNU put together its most sustained run of the night. Defensive stops turned into transition chances, Garrett Hawkes added a strong finish at the rim, and Martens knocked down timely shots to cut the deficit. The Nighthawks forced multiple turnovers during the stretch, finishing the game with double-digit steals and showcasing improved defensive intensity.
Michael Day contributed key baskets and free throws during the push, while Aaron Murphy added energy off the bench with hustle plays, rebounds, and defensive pressure. RJ Chatman and Hawkes each contributed steals that helped keep momentum alive as NNU continued to chip away at the lead.
Despite trimming the deficit and applying pressure late, Central Washington responded with timely baskets and free throws to halt the comeback attempt. NNU continued to compete until the final horn, outscoring the Wildcats in the second half and showing improved efficiency on offense.
Northwest Nazarene finished the game shooting better than 45 percent in the second half, a marked improvement from the opening period. The Nighthawks also won the rebounding battle, led by Ranstrom's 14 boards, and turned defensive pressure into points, scoring consistently off turnovers.
Reagan led all scorers with 24 points, while Ranstrom added 13 points and 14 rebounds. Martens chipped in key baskets and assists, and Day finished with nine points and multiple defensive plays. As a team, NNU showed balance, effort, and resilience, particularly in the second half after the slow start.
The Nighthawks will look to get back into the win column as they continue conference play as they have two home games next week, starting on Thursday against Alaska Anchorage at 7pm in the Johnson Sports Center.
