CALDWELL, Idaho — Northwest University men's basketball erased a 14-point halftime deficit and pulled within two in the final seconds before falling 106-103 to Providence on Saturday at the Taco Bell Shootout.
Providence opened the game with eight straight points and later extended its lead to 27-19. James Laurence and Troy Nickel hit back-to-back 3-pointers to bring Northwest within two midway through the first half, but the Argos pulled away again to take a 59-45 lead into halftime.
Christian Watkins hit two 3-pointers early in the second half to help the Eagles get back into the game. Isaiah White put Northwest ahead 75-73 with 14:25 remaining, but Providence answered with eight straight points. The Eagles stayed close as Gilbert Brown came up with a steal and a layup to tie the game at 84-84, and Dejuan Sims tied it again at 86-86 with just over eight minutes left.
The Argos went back up by eight with 4:17 to play. Hudson Yarbrough scored off his own miss to bring Northwest within three with 1:36 remaining, and Watkins hit a jumper with 21 seconds left to make it 103-100. After two Providence free throws, White grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left to cut the lead to 105-103. Providence made one of two free throws and secured the rebound on the miss to close out the game.
Watkins led seven Eagles in double figures with 20 points, including 14 after halftime. White and Brown finished with 15 apiece, and Sims added 14. Laurence, Darek Usitalo, and Yarbrough each scored 10, with Yarbrough also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
Up Next
Northwest (0-2) travels to Spokane, Washington, to face Whitworth University on Friday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m. at Whitworth Fieldhouse.
