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B Tucakovic
Al Kawashima

Men's Basketball

Eagles Defeat Evergreen in Overtime

Ben Tucakovic led NU with 23 points
Box Score OLYMPIA, Wash. – The NU Eagles outscored Evergreen 18-10 in overtime to come away with a come from behind 93-85 conference win over Evergreen to snap a two game losing streak.

Trailing 34-31 at the half and for a good part of the second half, the Eagles would come back in the final 2:38 of the game to take the lead only to let it slip away as JJ Nixon would go coast-to-coast to score the game tying basket with three seconds to go to send the game into and extra period.
 
The first half was closely contested with two ties marking the final six minutes of play. Justice Martion would give the Eagles a slim, 27-26 lead with 3:21 to go in the first half, but Evergreen would come back to tie and take a 5 point lead, 34-29, with 1:45 on the clock. Martion would close the gap to 34-31 at the half as he would drill a jumper with 5 seconds left on the clock.
 
Most of the second half would belong to the Geoducks as they would post double digit leads seven times in the period. But, with 6:02 to go in the game, a pair of Tre' Benton free throws would cut the Evergreen lead to 60-57. Two more free throws by Benton would cut the Geoducks' lead to one, 60-59, at the 5 minute mark. Evergreen would re-take the lead, but Dak Shagren's 3-pointer with 2:37 left would give the Eagles a 67-65 lead. NU had a six point, 73-67, lead with 29 seconds, but two straight 3-pointers by the Geoducks and NU going 2 for 4 from the free throw line would lead to JJ Nixon's driving lay-up with 3 seconds to go to tie the game.
 
The overtime period would belong to the Eagles. A three point play by Paul Loranger would put NU in the lead for good, 80-78, with 3:59 to go and NU would then get it done from the free throw line down the stretch converting 9 for 9 from the foul line to take the victory.
 
Ben Tucakovic led six Northwest U (14-4, 6-4 CCC) with 23 points and 6 rebounds. Michael Dupree had 15 points and 5 assists; Dak Shagren 14 points; Paul Loranger and Tre' Benton each with 13 points.  NU shot 44 per cent for the game and 50 per cent in the overtime period. The Eagles shot 49 free throws converting 33 for 67 per cent, but sunk 92 per cent, 12 of 13, in the overtime.
 
For Evergreen (5-11, 2-8 CCC), Taylor Drey scored 20 points with teammate Shawn Spencer scoring 19 points, pulling down 12 rebounds and handing out 5 assists. Dalton Groenewald added 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Geoducks who shot 42 per cent for the game. ESC out rebounded Northwest U tonight with a 47-39 margin with 19 offensive rebounds.
 
"This was a gritty, much-needed win for us tonight," said John Van Dyke, NU head coach. "This is always a tough place to play and tonight was no exception, but our guys hung in there, got a spurt at the end of regulation and then made critical free throws in the overtime for the victory. They did not give up. A win on the road in our conference is a good one."
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Michael Dupree

#11 Michael Dupree

G
6' 1"
Senior
Paul Loranger

#33 Paul Loranger

P
6' 10"
Senior
Dak Shagren

#21 Dak Shagren

G
6' 3"
Senior
Ben Tucakovic

#20 Ben Tucakovic

P
6' 7"
Senior
Tre

#3 Tre' Benton

W
6' 3"
Junior
Justice Martion

#15 Justice Martion

P
6' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Michael Dupree

#11 Michael Dupree

6' 1"
Senior
G
Paul Loranger

#33 Paul Loranger

6' 10"
Senior
P
Dak Shagren

#21 Dak Shagren

6' 3"
Senior
G
Ben Tucakovic

#20 Ben Tucakovic

6' 7"
Senior
P
Tre

#3 Tre' Benton

6' 3"
Junior
W
Justice Martion

#15 Justice Martion

6' 7"
Junior
P