Eagles Top NCU, End Multiple Streaks
EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest University men's basketball team ended a six-game losing streak on Friday night, defeating (RV) Northwest Christian on the road, 98-93. It was also the Eagles first win over the Beacons since 2014 and their first win in Eugene since 2013.
After trailing for most of the first half, NCU surged late to take a 45-40 lead into the intermission on the heels of a buzzer-beating 40-foot three-pointer from Tyrus Hosley.
The second half saw the Beacons continue their efforts, hitting four three-pointers within the first four minutes as they went ahead 61-50 with 15:50 to play. Northwest slowly chipped away at the Beacon lead, taking back their own advantage with nine minutes to go. The lead changed hands four more times, the last of which came on a pair of Nick Navarro free-throws to make it 72-71 with eight minutes to play.
Made free-throws proved to be the catalyst the visitors needed as they hit 12 of 14 attempts over the final eight minutes to thwart any Beacon comeback attempt.
The Eagles (11-13, 3-9 CCC) shot 57% from the field in the game, relying heavily on their height advantage in the post as Hussayn Ford and Josh Meyer combined to score 43 points on 16-for-26 shooting. It was Navarro, however, that finished with the team-high, coming off the bench to score 24 points.
Northwest Christian (15-7, 7-5 CCC), now riding a three-game losing streak of their own, was led by Hosley’s 28 points as the sophomore drained six three-pointers. Reece Robinson finished his night with a double-double scoring 21 points to go with 11 rebounds. Davonte Cleveland played nearly 30 solid minutes off the bench, scoring 16 points as he shot 7-for-11 from the field.
Austin Tyner and Ernest Ugoagu each scored 13 points as Tyner also collected four steals to improve his CCC-leading average to 2.6 per game. NCU shot 52% from the field and hit 12 three-pointers but were out-rebounded 38-27.
NCU will look to right the ship on Saturday when they play host to Evergreen State at 7:30 pm. The Eagles, meanwhile, head to Salem to take on Corban University. Corban defeated Evergreen on Friday, 75-53.