Men's Basketball | 2/21/2009 5:18:51 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Northwest Nazarene used a 30-10 run in the second half to erase a 13-point deficit and earn a 79-76 victory over Western Oregon Saturday, Feb. 21.

The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Northwest Nazarene as it moved to 11-12 on season and to 3-10 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The loss dropped Western Oregon to 9-15 and to 3-10 in conference.

Western Oregon took its largest lead of the game at 58-45 on a Travis Kuhns lay up with 13:55 remaining, then NNU started its game-changing run. The Crusaders would score 14 of the next 16 to cut the Wolves lead to one at 60-59. WOU would continue to hold the lead until Joel Ryman hit a three-pointer to put NNU ahead at 66-64 with 2:28 remaining. Kuhns would get another lay up to tie the game at 66-66 but Adam Shildmyer would answer with a three-pointer to put NNU up for good at 69-66. NNU would then push its lead to seven-points at 75-68, completing its 30-10 run. WOU made couple shots down the stretch to make it interesting but it was unable to recapture the lead.

"Northwest Nazarene made their shots down the stretch and we didn't convert on ours," said Western Oregon head coach Craig Stanger.

Northwest Nazarene had a decisive advantage on the boards, outrebounding Western Oregon 36 to 24. NNU also had a strong second half from the three-point line as it made 6-of-10 shots while limiting WOU to 2-of-14 from behind the arc. For the game both teams shot 50 percent from the field but Western Oregon made just six of its 11 shots at the free throw line and did not reach the bonus in either half.

Kuhns lead five Western Oregon players in double-figures with 18 points. He was 6-of-11 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to go along with his team-high four assists. Ratcliff had a team-best seven rebounds and scored 15 points as he went 7-of-12 from the field. Other Wolves in double-figures included Blair Wheadon and Matt Schmidt with 12 point each and Sam Kelly with 11. Brian Barkdoll had a double-double to lead NNU with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

This was the final home game for Kuhns, Kelly, Ratcliff and Tyler Blok. All four players started and scored in the game.

"These are quality guys on and off the field," noted coach Stanger.

The Western Oregon men's basketball team will be on the road for one game next week as it faces the NCAA west region's fifth-ranked, Western Washington Vikings Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m.