Northwest jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on a 3-pointer and layup by Stedman Richardson. Another layup by NU’s Tyson Christie would give the Eagles a 7-6 edge 5 minutes into the game. SPU would come back to tie the contest at 9-9 at the 11:43 mark and would take a nine point lead, 20-11 on two of Chris Banchero’s 15 free throws with 8:17 to go in the half. A Greg George jumper would pull NU to within six, 26-20, with 4:06 to go, but SPU would out score NU 9 to 6 to take a 35-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.

 

Early in the second half, two SPU layups by Ryan Sweet and Jeff Dorman would give SPU a 41-32 lead, but the Eagles would come storming back on a 9-0 run on three straight 3-pointers, two by Jordan Call and one by Daley Landon, to tie the game a 41-41 at the 16:14 mark. Chris Banchero, the 2009-10 GNAC player of the year would begin to heat up and eight straight of his points would give SPU a 49-45 lead with 14 minutes to go. An Andy Poling offensive rebound and two Banchero jumpers would increase the SPU lead to 13 at 68-55 with 8 minutes left in the game. NU wouldn’t go away easily and two free throws by Rich Skillman would pull the Eagles to within 8 points at 75-67 but that would be the closest NU would come as the Falcons would go 7 for 8 from the charity stripe to end the game.

 

Northwest (2-0) was led by Rich Skillman’s 16 points. Junior Jordan Call scored 14 points and senior guard Stedman Richardson contributed 13 and 3 steals on the night. The Eagles shot 40% from 2-point range and 32% from beyond the 3-point arc. NU hit 18-22 free throws for a 82% average.

 

Chris Banchero, 22 of his 30 points in the second to lead the Falcons. 6-11 Andy Poling registered a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds including 7 offensive boards. Senior Ryan Sweet scored 11 points and led the team with 6 assists. SPU held the rebounding edge, 43-26 and shot 55% on the night. The Falcons converted 26 of 37 free throws for a 70% average. SPU was coming off impressive victories over NCAA Division I opponents Eastern Washington and Nevada prior to hosting the Eagles.

 

Coach John Van Dyke (Northwest) and Coach Ryan Looney (SPU) are no strangers when it comes to competing against one another as it goes back to the time  Looney was the head coach at Eastern Oregon in the Cascade Conference. Tonight proved to be another battle between the two, but with Looney coming out on top, leading the Falcons for his second season.

 

“I’m proud of our effort tonight,” commented Coach John Van Dyke of Northwest U. “I think our guys are beginning to realize how good they can be and that they can compete with anyone if we compete and play hard. That was a very good Division II team we played tonight.”

 

Northwest will resume play on Friday night when they host GSAC’s Westmont College of Santa Barbara, a NAIA Division I school.