KIRKLAND, WA – Northwest (Wash.) outlasted No. 22 LC State Men’s Basketball on Saturday in a game that was decided at the free throw line. The Eagles snapped the Warrior win streak at six games.
“Credit to Northwest,” coach Austin Johnson said. “They were the much more aggressive and physical team. We could never match them, and they kept getting into the paint without much resistance from us. We really struggled to defend without fouling and that’s been an Achilles heel for us all year. Disappointing, but we’ll look to bounce back for a huge weekend at home.”
The loss moves the LC State record to 20-6 overall and 14-4 in Cascade Conference play. The Warriors are now in a three-way tie for the top spot in the CCC with two games remaining in the regular season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
John Lustig and Jamare’ Childs combined for a quick five points, but Northwest pulled ahead 11-7 in the first four minutes. A 3-pointer by Dylan Skaife and free throw by Lustig evened the score 11-11 at 14:29. Back-to-back buckets by Grayson Hunt and Trevor Manning put the Warriors in front 15-13 and Lustig added a rare 3-pointer for an 18-15 edge at 11:13.
The senior trio of Hunt, Peyton Nordland and Lustig combined for six points before a 3-pointer by Skaife capped the run at 9-0 for a 29-22 lead at 6:53. Free throws by the Eagles gave Northwest a 39-33 lead, but baskets by Hunt and Manning in the final minutes cut the deficit to 41-39 at the half.
Dallon Morgan kept the Warriors within two before a triple by Skaife gave LC State a slim 47-46 edge at 15:44 in the second half. A 3 by Childs kept the back-and-forth going.
Back-to-back baskets by Brandon Suber grew the difference to 58-53 in favor of LC State at the 11:00 mark. The lead continued to change hands as time ran down. Foul shots by Skaife had the Warriors within two, 78-76, but Northwest outlasted LC State 82-77.
STAT RECAP
Skaife led LC State with 17 points on four 3-pointers and Lustig scored 14. Hunt tallied 12 points with a team-high six rebounds.
Northwest went 22-for-22 at the free throw line which was the difference in the game.
