KIRKLAND – Northwest opened the Rick Skeen coaching era with a 66-63 win over Capilano on Friday.
 
Northwest trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half before getting a steady dose of offense.
 
Down 50-40 with 11:59 to go, Brody Steinhart scored to trigger a 14-0 Eagles run. Isaiah Williams and AJ Chappell deposited four points each to tie the game at 50-50 with 8:40 to go. Drew Bryson then delivered the lead and a four-point cushion with back-to-back goals.
 
The defense on that spree included forcing three CU turnovers and four one-and-done possessions. Joose Lee and Drew had steals, and Chappell gathered up two rebounds.
 
"That energy group—Joose, AJ, and Brody—really got us going after we were down 10," said Skeen. 
 
The Blues got the lead back on a three-pointer to start a 5-0 run and deliver a 63-60 lead with 2:27 to go.
 
CaCoa Chatman scored to cut the deficit to a point, and Capilano missed on the other end. Steinhart was fouled with 1:29 to go and came through at the free-throw line for a 64-63 lead.
 
After an exchange of turnovers, NU drained most of the clock before Lewis Pope scored with five seconds to go for what turned out to be the final 66-63 margin.
 
"It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win—and we'll take it," Skeen said. "We'll learn from it and try to get better tomorrow. We had 12 turnovers in the first half, and that's too many. But we did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half. Lewis came out of his shell and played a great game, and that was a big basket at the end."
 
Pope led the Eagles with 17 points, with Bryson adding 12. Chatman led the rebounding effort with five. Bryson led with five assists.
 
Pope and Chatman had three steals each, and Isaiah Williams blocked two shots.
 
The 1-0 Eagles visit Puget Sound on Nov. 11. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.