Box Score
NAMPA, Idaho – After spending the last eight years in Boise, Tim Cleary made his debut as Pacific head men's basketball coach back in the Treasure Valley as the Boxers dropped a 97-57 decision to Northwest Nazarene in an exhibition game Saturday at the Johnson Sports Center.
The Boxers were limited to just 26 percent shooting, connecting on 19 of 71 from the field. The Division II Crusaders, meanwhile, had little trouble finding the basket on their home floor, shooting 50.8 percent on 32 of 63 from the field and 27 of 35 from the free throw line.
Adam McElwee (So., Woodinville, Wash.) led the Boxers with 17 points, connecting on 6 of 16 from the field, to go along with nine rebounds. Colin Wester (So., Sherwood, Ore.) and Robby Babek (Jr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) each came off the bench to score eight points.
Anthony Golden led seven NNU players in double figures with 13 points. Paul Egwuonwu had a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds and Brian Barkdoll had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Crusaders jumped out of the gate by scoring the first eight points of the contest and built a 22-6 lead on three-pointer by Blair at the 10:40 mark. A dunk by Kevin Rima made it a 20-point advantage at the 6:54 mark before the Boxers reduced the lead to 13 on Marcus Kienlen's (Jr., Scappoose, Ore.) jumper with 5:34 to go. The Crusaders closed the half on a 16-4 run over the final five minutes to take a 50-25 lead into halftime.
NNU only continued the push in the second half, going up 30 points on a pair of Barkdoll free throws five minutes into the stanza. The advantage was 34 points before the Boxers knocked the lead down to 66-39 on Wester's jumper at 12:55 mark. The Crusaders went up 40 on a Rima jumper at the 6:27 mark and took their biggest lead of 44 with 4:38 to go.
The Boxers will officially open the 2010 season at home on Thurs., Nov. 18, when they host Portland Bible at the Stoller Center. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
