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.
