Hot Shooting Deacons Topple Eagles
KIRKLAND, Wash. – New Hope Christian (Eugene, Ore.) shot 62% for the night including 56% from the 3-point line as they defeated Northwest University 86-79 in a non-conference contest. It was NU's first loss of the season after 6 straight wins.
New Hope shot a blistering 63% in the first half on 17-27 shooting and an even hotter 72% from beyond the 3-point line (10-14) as they would take a 44-39 lead at the half. Northwest U., playing without two starters tonight, managed 54% shooting in half, 50% from beyond the 3 point arc to keep it close. NHC’s Harley Turner hit 5 of 6 three pointers, hitting 6 of 8 for 17 first half points for the Deacons. NU’s Michael Russo hit 5 of 10 from the field for 16 points for the Eagles.
The Deacons would continue their hot shooting coming out of the locker room and out score Northwest 12-5 to take a 56-44 lead punctuated by Tarance Gyn’s dunk with 16:41 on the clock. After NU’s Michael Greene would score in the paint to make it a ten point 56-46 game, Tarance Glyn would score and Drew Wiley would drill a 3 pointer to increase the New Hope lead to 15 points, 61-46 at the 14:48 mark. With NWC up 71-58 with 8:54 remaining in the game, Northwest would go on a 9-2 run to narrow the score to 73-67 after a trey and two free throws by Nick Crossan. Michael Russo would hit two straight 3’s to cut the Deacon lead to 2 points, 77-75 with 1:57 remaining, but New Hope would hit 9 of 11 free throws down the stretch to maintain the lead and earn the win.
Northwest U. (6-1) leading scorer was Michael Russo with 29 points. Junior forward Michael Greene scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for a double double and Nick Crossan dropped in 11 points for the Eagles who shot 46% for the game. NU also held the edge on rebounding, 31-23.
New Hope Christian was led by Harley Turner’s 25 points as he shot 67% for the night, 70% from the 3 point line (7-10). Drew Wiley scored 17 points while Tarance Glyn and Corey Gantt each scored 12 points for the Deacons. NHC also completed 81% of their free throws going 13 for 16 from the charity stripe.
“Give credit to New Hope coming in here and making their shots tonight,” said Eagle head coach, John Van Dyke. “We’ve rarely seen a team shoot consistently well for an entire game like they did tonight. I liked the way our guys didn’t quit and gave a good effort all the way until the end. We’ll get back to work and recover from this game. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played and we will improve.”
NU will travel to Spokane next weekend for two games in the CCC-Frontier Challenge at Spokane Falls Community College.