NAMPA, Idaho – The Bushnell University men's basketball team took on NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene University in an exhibition contest on Saturday night, falling to the Nighthawks 101-91 in overtime.
 
Head Coach Eddie Alexander said, "I am so proud of how this team continues to get better every day. Tonight was a huge step forward in execution, fight and stamina. The environment was amazing on NNU's Homecoming Weekend with a packed house."
 
The Beacons (1-2) trailed by 13 points early in the second half before battling their way back into the game, finding themselves with an 81-80 lead with 1:35 to go in regulation. Kaden Sand scored eight points in a three-minute span, tying the game three times before the go-ahead free throw. A made free throw and layup by NNU put the Beacons down by two before Logan Sand's jumper tied the game at 83-83 with 23 seconds on the clock. The Nighthawks missed a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
 
The Nighthawks scored the first seven points in overtime and the Beacons were unable to catch up. Luke Smith made back-to-back buckets coming out of a timeout to bring the Beacons within 94-89 with a minute to go but the Nighthawks made their free throws down the stretch to hold the steady lead.
 
"We took a lot of blows tonight and continued to fight back," said Alexander. "We just didn't have enough in OT to keep responding. Our team is continuing to embrace their roles and it's starting to show in how they are coming together. This was a great exhibition for us and a game in which we will learn from."
 
The Beacons shot 46.7% from the floor on the night and made 88.2% of their free throws.
 
Smith led Bushnell with 25 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4-for-8 from three. Smith's night included three consecutive made shots from beyond the arc toward the end of the first half to help the Beacons enter halftime down by just one point.
 
Stevie Schlabach finished with 22 points for Bushnell. Jarrett Bryant added 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting, while Kaden Sand totaled 13 points.
 
NNU was led by James Nelson, who finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Kobe Terashima also recorded a double-double, securing 19 points and 10 assists. The Nighthawks shot 47.8% from the field and outrebounded the Beacons 46-36.        
 
Bushnell hosts Corban University, Carroll College and Pacific Union College (Calif.) in the Beacon Classic on November 19-20. The Beacons will play their home opener against Carroll on Nov. 19 before taking on Pacific Union on Nov. 20.