ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Northwest Nazarene battled through a physical road test Saturday night in Anchorage, but Alaska Anchorage was able to keep the Nighthawks at bay as NNU took a loss 53-71 

The Nighthawks came out composed and competitive in the opening minutes, matching Anchorage's energy and trading baskets early. NNU briefly took the lead midway through the first half, going up 12–11 at the 11:33 mark, sparked by active defense and efficient ball movement. Michael Day set the tone inside, scoring early and protecting the paint, while Garrett Hawkes orchestrated the offense with patience and pace. 

Day was a steady presence all night, finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and a highlight two-handed dunk that ignited the NNU bench. His physicality inside helped the Nighthawks stay close during a stretch where scoring was hard to come by for both teams. 

Hawkes led NNU in scoring with 10 points, shooting 4-for-10 from the field and 2-for-7 from beyond the arc, while also dishing out 5 assists. He consistently found teammates in rhythm and knocked down timely shots to stop Anchorage runs, including a pair of triples that kept the deficit manageable. 

Anchorage used a late first-half surge to separate, closing the period on a run to take a 39–28 advantage into halftime. Despite the deficit, the Nighthawks stayed aggressive coming out of the break, opening the second half with strong defensive possessions and attacking the rim in transition. 

Briggs Ranstrom delivered a very balanced performance, recording 7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in 34 minutes. His defensive activity created multiple turnover opportunities, and his vision helped NNU move the ball effectively against Anchorage's pressure. 

Off the bench, Aaron Murphy provided a spark with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and a block, scoring efficiently around the basket and cleaning up second-chance opportunities. Jaden Byers chipped in 6 points, adding a steal and consistently attacking off the dribble, while Easton Reagan added 6 points with a pair of three-pointers. 

NNU trimmed the lead to single digits at several points in the second half, but Anchorage's rebounding advantage and ability to capitalize on extra possessions slowed the comeback. The Seawolves controlled the glass and converted key buckets late to keep the Nighthawks at arm's length. 

As a team, Northwest Nazarene finished the night shooting 39.6 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from three, and 75 percent from the free-throw line, while totaling 18 assists on 21 made field goals — a continued emphasis on sharing the ball and attacking as a unit. 

Despite the final score, the Nighthawks showed resilience in a challenging road environment and will look to build on their defensive intensity, balanced scoring, and playmaking as GNAC play continues