Humphreys Saves Victory for NWCC in USCAA Tourney Opener

Jordan Humphreys finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals for NWCC.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

EUGENE - The #4 seeded Northwest Christian College men’s basketball let a 15-point halftime lead dissolve to a two-point edge with just 54 second remaining, but senior Point Guard Jordan Humphreys scored seven unanswered points, including five at the free-throw line to seal a 57-55 victory over Johnson & Wales College in the first round of the USCAA National Championship Tournament.

The Beacons dominated the early part of the game and shot a collective 56.5% in the first half to set the precedent.

Josh Jarrett, who had eight in the first half and finished with a double-double said, “We were nervous coming out, but I was able to hit my first four or five shots and it really got us rolling. The team fed off of that and we built some confidence.

Things began to fall apart in the second half.

Trailing 47-37 with ten minutes to play, the Wildcats went on an 18-10 run and were down just 57-55 with 54 second to play as Jarrod Johnson hit a three-pointer.

On the ensuing inbound play, A personal foul and technical four were called on Johnson, putting Humphreys at the line. The leading free-throw shooter in the USCAA hit three, making it a 5-point lead, 60-55.

Johnson & Wales attempted a clock-saving inbound roll soon after, but Humphreys anticipated the move, made a play on the ball. He dove and intercepted the pass, collected the ball and put in up and in with a layup. After another pair of free-throws, the game was over.

Humphreys finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Jarrett ended the day with a team-high 15, adding eleven rebounds. Erik Quick-Warner was the only other Beacon in double-figures with ten.

Johnson & Wales (11-16) got a game-high 18 points from George Biones in the losing effort, hitting 5 three-pointers.

The Beacons (15-11) advance to face #1 seed Rochester College (NY) in a semi-final game tomorrow at 2:00 PM PST.

Rochester College (MI) not (NY)

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