Nemanja Grujicic scores two of his 20 points
Eagles Knock Off No. 17 Raiders
KIRKLAND, Wash. - Northwest University built a 19 point first half lead as they held off No. 17 Southern Oregon, 84-68, tonight in the NU Pavilion. Nemanja Grujicic and C.J. Carter combined for 40 points to lead Northwest U.
Northwest U would get off to a great start aided by 60 percent shooting in the period as they would lead 22-9 early after Tomas Ogbaslassie’s 4-point play with 12:16 left in the half. The Eagles would maintain the hot hand and Nemanja Grujicic’s lay-up would grow the NU lead to 21 points, 39-18, with 4:07 showing on the clock. Eric Thompson’s lay-up would cut the Eagles lead to 41-25 at the 1:57 mark, but Grujicic’s free throw at the end of the half would give Northwest U a 46-27 halftime lead.
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In the second half, with Northwest U leading 49-29, Southern Oregon would make a push and go on a 9-0 run capped off with a Ben DeSaulnier driving lay-up to cut the NU led to twelve, 49-37. A C.J. Carter trey would push the NU lead back up to 15, but a 5-0 run by the Raiders would make it a ten point ball game, 52-42 with 11:29 to go on the game. Ten points would be the closest SOU would come as NU would withstand the Raider runs to build their lead back up to 16 with 2:12 left in the game. The Eagles would hit 8 of 10 free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
Northwest U (14-11, 4-9 CCC) shot 54 percent, 40 percent from the 3-point line as Carter and Grujicic each scored 20 for the Eagles. Dak Shagren scored 19 and Tomas Ogbaslassie dropped in 14 points for NU. The Eagles won the battle of the rebounding with a 36-26 edge.
Ben DeSaulnier led Southern Oregon (19-6, 9-5 CCC) with a team high 18 points and Jordan West contributed 17 points for the Raiders. Kenny Meyer added 13 points as SOU hit 43 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
“It was nice to see our guys rewarded for a good week of practice,” said John Van Dyke, NU Eagle head coach. “Our guys put the time in to improve and we were especially pleased with the defensive job Tomas (Ogbaslassie) did on Eric Thompson and holding him to 6 points. That was a tough assignment and solid effort on a very good player.”
Northwest U will remain at home and will host Oregon Tech tomorrow night while Southern Oregon heads to Olympia to play Evergreen.