SALEM, Ore. – Northwest broke open the new men's basketball season Friday, shooting 57 percent from the field in an 87-60 win against Camosun in the Corban Classic.
 
Hussayn Ford picked up where he left off from his 2018-19 honorable mention All-America season with an impressive double-double, getting 23 points to go with 14 rebounds.
 
"It's always nice to start out with a win," said NU Head Coach Jeff Drinkwine. "We were pleased with the overall team effort. Our guys bought into the game plan. It was great to see our guys share the ball. Tomorrow will be another big test for us, Thompson Rivers is very well-coached and a very skilled group."
 
The Eagles manufactured double-figure scoring from five players with Christian Hakilimali getting 16, while Cesar Sandoval added 12 and Dejwan Walker and Tre Newman chipped in 10 each.
 
NU never trailed and used a 9-0 run to build a 27-13 lead with 7:20 to go in the first half. Jase Paulsen scored on a layup for a 44-23 lead with 12 seconds left before intermission to present the Eagles with their biggest first-half lead.
 
The Chargers got no closer than 19 in the second half and the Eagles maxed out the lead at 33 points, 65-32, on a Newman fast-break layup with 13:33 remaining.
 
Sandoval just missed a double-double with nine rebounds in his NU debut. He shared high-assist honors with Walker with five each.
 
The Eagles connected on 36 of 63 field goals with Ford going 11 of 15 from the floor. NU also converted seven three-pointers with Walker, Paulsen and Ryan Ricks getting two apiece.
 
NU dominated on the glass with 49 rebounds to Camosun's 25. Behind Ford and Sandoval, the Eagles got a seven-rebound effort from Tanner Davis.
 
The Eagles play Thompson Rivers Saturday at 1 p.m. to close out their stay in Salem.