Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – The Northwest Christian University men's basketball team found themselves in the loss column for the first time this season, dropping a road game to Fresno Pacific University, 69-58. The Beacons shot just 22% in the first half and never fully recovered despite trailing by only five points at the intermission.

Things started out rough for NCU with the Sunbird's Jordan Wild scoring twelve of his team's first 14 points, giving Fresno Pacific a 14-9 lead. A pair of free-throws from Mitch Wilson and a layup by Brody McGowan brought the Beacons to within one point at the 10:15 mark, but that was as close as they would come the rest of the way.

The Beacons trailed 24-19 at the half, and were down 29-24 after a three-pointer from Quentin Guidry with 17:14 to play. But went 1-for-3 and had two turnovers over the next three minutes as Fresno Pacific went on an 11-2 run to grab a 14-point lead.

NCU was down by 19 points, 53-34 with just under nine minutes to play. With the team still struggling to score, McGowan put up four straight points and then junior point guard Brian Hampton (pictured) put the team on his back as the Beacons attempted to mount a comeback. Hampton hit back-to-back three-pointers and Brent McKee added a three-pointer on the next possession, and Northwest Christian was within ten, 57-47 with 5:28 to play.

Hampton finished the night hitting five three-pointers on nine attempts, scoring a team-high 15 points, along with four assists. McKee added nine points and Guidry finished with eight. Kellen Spicer led the Beacons with five rebounds and had seven points. McGowan also had seven points, continuing to show some high efficiency in just eight minutes of work.

Fresno Pacific (2-0) had four players in double-figures, led by 16 points and five assists from Adam Kado, both game highs. Wild finished with 14 points, scoring just two over the final 32 minutes of the game. He also grabbed a game-high ten boards, as FPU out-rebounded the Beacons, 35-28. Deshaun Legree added eleven point and Jerante Morgan scored ten in the win.

Northwest Christian (1-1) will be back in action on Friday, opening play in the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic against California Baptist University. Opening Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.