Box Score EUGENE, Ore. – A slow start put The Evergreen State College behind from the outset and that proved to be too much to overcome against the No. 8-ranked team in the nation on Friday night at Morse Event Center.

Northwest Christian (21-4 overall, 14-1 CCC) won its 14th consecutive game with an 83-73 triumph over Evergreen (8-16, 5-11). With the win the Beacons stayed atop the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings, while the loss kept the Geoducks from making up ground in their push for a conference postseason tournament berth.

The Geoducks shot 8-for-32, or 25 percent, through the opening 20 minutes, and while they heated up to 49 percent in the second half, the slow start made the difference.

There was a brief tie in the early going before Northwest Christian gained control, and it held the lead through the final 38 minutes. The game's largest lead came at 26 points with 7:08 to play.

Evergreen, which ended the game with 37 percent shooting accuracy, got a game-high 21 points from Brock Otis. Landon Rushton came off the bench to score 12 points, and Ryan Quigley added 11. Alix Hernandez, still hampered by an ankle injury, led the team with eight rebounds.

The Beacons, who shot 54 percent overall, were led in scoring by Javonte Byre with 15 points. Austin Kuemper had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Austin Tyner came off the bench to add 12 points.

Evergreen is back in action at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow when it plays the Corban Warriors in Salem.