Warner Pacific Clips HNU Hawks, 75-64
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – 17th ranked Warner Pacific held off a second half charge from Holy Names to earn a 75-64 non-conference win tonight at Bart Valentine Court.
With the host Knights (9-3) nursing a six point advantage, back to back three point makes from Biniam Tadele gave WP a 62-50 lead with 6:50 to play. The shots from distance were needed, as the visiting Hawks (5-8) rallied from a deficit that reached as many as 16 (46-30) early in the second half. A 15-5 run from HNU made the score 51-45 in favor of Warner Pacific, but a pair of free throws from Stephen Harris just before the treys from Tadele gave the Knights some breathing room.
A slow start to the game from WP allowed the Hawks to jump out to a 11-2 lead in the first five minutes. The Knights responded with a 9-0 run thanks to seven points from Nick Schultens, and later finished the period with a 14-3 burst to claim a 33-23 lead at the break.
Tadele and Schultens finished with 14 points each for Warner Pacific, while Sean Gaines added 10 points and five rebounds. Dane Johnson saw his first action of the year for the Knights, contributing six points and five assists.
Obie Woods led the Hawks with 13 points off the bench, while Mike McElroy added 12 points and eight rebounds.