EUGENE, Ore. –  After building a 13-point first-half lead, Warner Pacific held off a rally from Northwest Christian Friday night, winning a crucial Cascade Conference game, 57-50.
 
The Basics

• Score: Warner Pacific 57, Northwest Christian 50
• Records: WPC (20-5, 10-3 CCC), NCU (15-8, 8-6 CCC)
• Location: Morse Event Center, Eugene, Ore.
• The Short Story: Warner Pacific earned a key CCC win on the road tonight versus a solid NCU squad tonight, keeping their title hopes alive moving closer to the goal of a NAIA Tourney berth. Though the Knights enjoyed a 13 point halftime lead (30-17), that advantage was not enough as the host Beacons overcame the gap in the second half. NCU erased the deficit and took a 47-42 lead with 7:46 to play, the Knights recovered thanks to eight points down the stretch from Coletun Tarr.   

How it Happened

• The Beacons opened the contest without any shooting touch as they went 1-for-14 from three-point range in the first half.
• Ryan Parks hit for three makes from distance, helping WPC to a 30-17 lead at halftime. 
• Doug Thomas gave the Knights a 15-point lead with his jumper on the first possession of the second period, but NCU went on a 9-0 run to climb within six points.
• WPC built the lead back up to ten (38-28) with 14:39 to play but the next six minutes belonged to the Beacons.   
• A Jack Hackman triple began a 19-4 run for the home team, and NCU jumped ahead 47-42 with 7:46 remaining.
• The shooters, however, once again went cold for NCU and Warner Pacific closed the game on a 15-3 run of their own, capped off by six free throws by Coleton Tarr in the final 34 seconds.

Notable

•  Post player Tim Carter made his first appearance for the Knights since breaking his hand on Dec. 14.