KIRKLAND, Wash. – No. 13 ranked Warner Pacific University never trailed as they would post an 88-77 Cascade Conference victory tonight in the NU Pavilion and putting themselves in to sole possession of second place in the league standings.
 
The Knights established themselves early, taking a 24-9 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. Xavier Cannefax capped off the WPC run with three of his game high 23 points. Warner Pacific was aided by 55% shooting in the half including 46% from beyond the 3-point line. NU would not go away easily and battled back to cut the Knight lead to three, 27-24 with 8:29 left in the half. WPC pushed their lead back up to seven and NU's Jaden Jenkins would sink a single free throw with 35 seconds to go to make it a 42-36 Warner Pacific lead at halftime.
 
Warner Pacific's half court trapping defense made a difference in the second half as Northwest U would go cold and the Knights would stretch their lead to 67-44 lead after a 12-0 run with 11:44 remaining in the game. Ryan Ricks capped off an late, 8-3 NU run to make it a 9 point game, 84-75, with 42 seconds to go, but that would be the closest the Eagles would come as Warner Pacific went on to the 88-77 win.
 
Christian Hakilimali led Northwest U (12-17, 6-13 CCC) with 15 points with teammates Tre Benton and Josh Meyer both scoring 11 for the Eagles. NU shot a very respectable 47% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line, but lost the battle of the rebounding as WPC held a 40-34 edge.
 
Warner Pacific (20-8, 14-5 CCC) was led by Xavier Cannefax's game high 23 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. De'Jon Bowman had a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds while Collin Malcolm contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds. WPC shot 52% for the game, 46% from the 3-point line going 13 for 28.
 

Story courtesy of NU sports information