NU's Ahmaad Cook led the Eagles with 15 points.
Eagles Turn Back Corban for 13th Straight
SALEM, Ore. - A second half comeback effort by Corban University fell short as Northwest University improved to 13-0 on the season with a 70-61 Cascade Conference win tonight in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. The win also improves Northwest’s league record to 3-0.
Northwest wasted no time to get going against Corban jumping out to a 14-5 lead just 4 minutes and 40 seconds into the game. NU went on a 9-0 run following an Erik Cronrath jumper to earn the early lead. The Eagles maintained a hot hand the entire half, shooting 45% overall and 50% from the 3-point line making 7 of 14 treys as they took a 39-26 lead into the locker room. Corban made 9 of 23 shots from the field for 39% and hit 4 of 10 from the 3-point line for 40%. Northwest’s offensive attack was balanced as eight players all scored for the Eagles. Nemanja Grujicic hit 3 of 4 three-pointers for 9 first half points.
NU would remain hot at the start of the second half out scoring Corban 12-6 to open the period to increase their lead to 19 points, 51-32, with 16:35. Corban coach, Justin Sherwood, then took all five of his starters from the game at that point and the Warriors reserves would go on a 21-7 run and cut the Northwest lead to just 5 points, 58-53, in ten minutes and 29 seconds. After Jordan Call missed two free throws, Corban had an opportunity to cut the Eagle lead to three, but a huge steal by Rich Skillman and an even bigger 3-pointer by Ahmaad Cook would get the NU lead back up 8 points, 61-53, with 4:15 left in the game. The play stopped a big momentum swing and after two Jacob Kopra free throws at the 3:45 mark to cut the Eagle lead to 6 points, 61-55, Corban would then bring their starting lineup back into the game. Following a Corban turnover, Michael Greene hit a jump hook in the lane to make it 63-55 and after another Warrior miscue, a steal by Cook and his pass ahead to a streaking Jordan Call who would finish with the layup putting NU up 10, 65-55 with 2:13 left in the contest. With Corban forced to foul, NU would go on to make 5 of 6 free throws to close out the game for their 13th consecutive win of the season.
Four Northwest U. (13-0, 3-0 CCC) players finished in double figures led by senior Ahmaad Cook who finished with 15 points. 6-8 freshman Nemanja Grujicic scored 13 points, hitting 4 of 5 three pointers while Jordan Call and Michael Greene each scored 10 points. Northwest shot 43% for the game.
Corban University (9-7, 1-3 CCC) was led by Jake Mauermann's 12 points, all 3-point field goals. Jacob Kopra scored 11 points and Erik Cronrath contributed 10 points for the Warriors. Corban out rebounded Northwest 33-32 and shot 45% for the game, 50% in the second half.
"It was a good way to go into Christmas break," commented Coach John Van Dyke. "I thought we played real well in spurts tonight."
NU will resume play on Dec. 29 and 30 when they host the College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon University in CCC play. Game times are at 7:30 p.m. Corban will host Northwest Christian in Salem on Dec. 30.