EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University men's basketball team won a conference game on a last-second shot for the second straight contest, topping Corban University 63-60 on Tuesday when senior Javonte Byrd hit a three-pointer in a final moments.
 
The Beacons were forced into another nail biter thanks to a strong second-half effort from Corban. The Beacons had held the Warriors to just 25 points in the first half and took an eight-point lead into the break. NCU led by as many as 12 points early in the second half but Corban rallied, taking a lead at the nine-minute mark on a three-pointer.
 
Jay Mayernik, however, responded with some big buckets down the stretch, proving to be the go-to guy for the Beacons as they held off the home team.
 
Corban never fell too far behind and A.J. Monterossi tied the game with a pair of free-throws to make it a 60-60 ballgame with just over a minute to play. Fruitless possessions by both teams in the final minute saw the ball back in the hands of NCU and a timeout was called with four seconds to play.
 
A simple in-bound pass from Byrd to Omar Richards, and a quick screen back to Byrd found the senior draining the game-winner with just 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Corban couldn't come up with anything on their final possession and the Beacons were able to leave Salem with their third straight win.
 
Corban (6-5, 2-3 CCC) was led by the duo of Monterossi and post Cyrus Ward, combining for 37 of the team's 60 points. Monterossi scored 22 while Ward finished with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Corban shot 88% at the free-throw line and played a clean game with just four turnovers.
 
"You have to give Corban a ton of credit," said head coach Luke Jackson. "They were one of the best teams we have played this year. They were the most prepared for what we were trying to do. They matched us step-for-step and took us a lot of things that we normally get pretty easily. Corban is one of the best teams in the league. Not a lot of teams are going to come in here and get a win so we were lucky to pull this one out."
 
The Beacons (10-4, 4-1) had three players in double figures led by Richards with 18. The senior post hit a trio of three-pointers and added eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Mayernik came off the bench to register a double-double, scoring 15 points with 11 rebounds and Byrd finished the night with ten points. Kenny Blackwell scored eight for the Beacons and led all players with four assists.
 
NCU, currently sitting in third place in the CCC and just a half game behind undefeated Southern Oregon and Warner Pacific, returns home after a quick break for Christmas, resuming CCC action on December 30 against Walla Walla University. It will be the Beacons first ever conference meeting with the Wolves (2-10, 0-4) who joined the CCC this season.