BURNABY, BC — Simon Fraser University surrendered a 13-point first half lead and then lost 77-65 to Northwest Nazarene Crusaders in Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball action at the West Gym.
Northwest Nazarene opened the second half on a 20-4 run to take the lead and never looked back, claiming the 12-point victory. The Crusaders out-scored the Clan 51-30 over the second half.
Simon Fraser is now 2-21 overall, 1-16 in the GNAC while the Crusaders improved to 8-15 overall, 4-13 in the conference.
Simon Fraser controlled the game late in the first half, leading by as many as 13 points. The Clan held a nine point halftime lead, 35-26, after shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) and out-rebounding the Crusaders 22-12.
Clan freshman
Oshea Gairey (12 points) and senior
Michael Harper (10) lead all scorers in the first half. Gairey finished with 20 points on 6-of-20 shooting while Harper added another six points in the second half to finish with 16.
Simon Fraser opened the second half with a quick three to push the lead to 12 but the Crusaders came racing back with a 20-4 run to take the lead, 46-42, with 14:09 left in the game.
It was a back-and-fourth battle the rest of the way. The Clan drew even at 58 with 6:12 left after two straight goaltending calls against the Crusaders. But Simon Fraser never regained the lead.
NNU pushed the lead back out to 67-60 with 1:43 left and made their free throws the rest of the way.
NNU hit just nine of 26 shots in the first half but their shooters came alive in the second, hitting 17 of 29 from the field. NNU finished the game shooting 47.3 percent from the field.
SFU went 9-of-32 from the field in the second half and shot 37.7 percent from the field (23-of-61) for the game.
Simon Fraser leading scorer
Max Barkeley, who was averaging 14.9 ppg, has left the team and did not play.
SFU will play its final home game Saturday at 3 PM in the West Gym against Central Washington.
Follow the SFU Clan men's basketball team on the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/SFU_MBB.
--@SFUClan--
