Monmouth, Ore. - The Northwest Nazarene University men's basketball team delivered a poised and powerful performance on the road Saturday night, earning an 80–74 victory over Western Oregon University inside Monmouth.
NNU led for more than 33 minutes of game time and shot an efficient 58.2 percent from the field, continuing its strong offensive rhythm away from home. The Nighthawks were sharp early, scoring 36 points in the first half on 60 percent shooting and building steady separation through balanced scoring and aggressive play in the paint.
Senior guard
Easton Reagan paced Northwest Nazarene with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Reagan was efficient and composed throughout, scoring at all three levels and stepping up late from the free-throw line to help seal the victory. His pair of free throws with six seconds remaining pushed the lead to 80–74, effectively closing the door on a late Western Oregon push.
Guard
Kyelin King delivered another dynamic performance, finishing with 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds. King attacked the rim relentlessly, converting tough finishes in traffic and providing second-chance opportunities with five offensive boards. His back-to-back dunks midway through the first half ignited the Nighthawk bench and helped spark a decisive run that gave NNU control of the contest.
Garrett Hawkes added 10 points and three assists, consistently breaking down the defense off the dribble, while
Jaden Byers contributed 14 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting. Byers' hook shot with just over four minutes remaining in the second half halted a Western Oregon surge and restored momentum to the Nighthawks.
Briggs Ranstrom chipped in eight points, two steals, and a key block, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
Northwest Nazarene's inside presence was also crucial.
Aaron Murphy pulled down five rebounds to go with six points, and
Michael Day added four boards and a block in valuable minutes. As a team, NNU outrebounded Western Oregon, including several critical defensive rebounds in the final minutes when the Wolves were looking to extend possessions.
The second half tested NNU's composure. After building a 10-point advantage at the 7:46 mark (66–56), Western Oregon clawed back behind strong play from Jadin Penigar and Noah Ogoli. The Wolves trimmed the deficit to just two possessions with under two minutes to play, capitalizing on trips to the free-throw line and second-chance opportunities.
But every time Western Oregon threatened, the Nighthawks responded. Reagan knocked down timely shots. King attacked the glass. Ranstrom came up with a key steal in the closing minutes. And when the Wolves were forced to foul, NNU calmly stepped to the stripe and converted enough free throws to maintain control.
Defensively, Northwest Nazarene forced 18 Western Oregon fouls and held the Wolves to one key missed three-pointer in the final 10 seconds that could have made it a one-possession game. The Nighthawks also recorded five steals and two blocks, turning defensive stops into valuable transition opportunities.
The win improves the Nighthawks' momentum as they continue conference play, showcasing their ability to win tough road games through efficient offense and disciplined late-game execution. Shooting nearly 57 percent in the second half and finishing with four players in double figures, NNU demonstrated the balance and resilience that defines this squad.
The Nighthawks will come home for their last two games of the season, as they will play Thursday night at 7pm against Simon Fraser in the Johnson Sports Center before the senior night festivities on Saturday, as the Nighthawks take on Western Washington as we celebrate the NNU seniors.
