NAMPA, Idaho — Northwest Nazarene University delivered one of its most exciting performances of the season on Saturday night, rallying from a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat the Seattle Pacific Falcons, 67–64, in a thrilling comeback inside the Johnson Sports Center.
The Nighthawks endured a challenging opening half, struggling to find consistency on the offensive end. NNU shot just 26.7 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes and went into the locker room trailing 34–22 after Seattle Pacific controlled the pace and capitalized on timely scoring and rebounding.
Everything changed after halftime.
Northwest Nazarene emerged with renewed energy and urgency, flipping the momentum almost immediately. The Nighthawks poured in 45 points in the second half while shooting a scorching 62.5 percent from the floor and 63.6 percent from three-point range. Defensive stops turned into transition opportunities, and the home crowd fueled the surge as NNU steadily erased the deficit.
Senior guard Easton Reagan led the charge with a game-high 19 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting, adding seven rebounds and consistently attacking the rim when the Nighthawks needed a bucket. RJ Chatman was electric off the bench, drilling four three-pointers and finishing with 12 points to stretch the defense and ignite the comeback.
The Nighthawks' effort was balanced and physical across the lineup. Briggs Ranstrom filled the stat sheet with nine points, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, providing critical plays on both ends of the floor. Garrett Hawkes orchestrated the offense and impacted the game in multiple ways, recording seven points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Defensively, Northwest Nazarene set the tone in the second half. Michael Day dominated the paint with four blocks and altered countless shots, helping hold Seattle Pacific to just 30 second-half
points. The Nighthawks forced key turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities, slowly shifting control of the game.
The comeback reached its climax in the final minute. With the score tight, Jaden Byers knocked down a clutch jumper with 45 seconds remaining to give Northwest Nazarene its first lead of the night. From there, the Nighthawks stayed composed, making defensive stops and sealing the victory at the free-throw line.
Northwest Nazarene finished the night shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc and won the second half by a decisive 45–30 margin. The victory highlighted the Nighthawks' resilience, defensive toughness, and ability to execute under pressure.
With the dramatic comeback win, NNU moves on to a 14-8 record, and a 8-5 record overall in GNAC conference play. The Nighthawks look to continue to build off this momentum as they face off against Montana State Billings this Saturday. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 local time in Nampa, in the Johnson Sports Center.
