Box Score Dalton Groenewold scored an Evergreen career-high 24 points but it wasn't enough Friday night to prevent No. 8-ranked Northwest Christian from walking out of Costantino Recreation Center with a 104-90 Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball victory.

The win was the 12th in a row for the Beacons (19-3 overall, 13-2 CCC), who maintained their advantage atop the conference standings behind 21 points and 12 rebounds from Jay Mayernik.

The Geoducks (5-17, 2-14) never led but stayed within striking distance of the visitors most of the way, trailing 46-38 at the half and later cutting into the deficit to get within five points, 61-56, with 13:31 to play.

From that point on, however, the Beacons started to gradually separate themselves from the Geoducks. NCU opened up its first double-digit lead at 68-58 on a Mayernik basket with 12 minutes to play, and an 8-0 surge capped by Mayernik's three-point play put the Beacons on top, 79-62, shortly thereafter.

For all intents and purposes the game was decided at that point as Evergreen was unable to slice its deficit under double digits.

Groenewold was outstanding for the Geoducks, scoring the team's first eight points on the way to his career-high. The sophomore forward was 8-for-10 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and made all six of his free throws. Groenewold also led the team with six rebounds.

Taylor Drey added 20 points for Evergreen, Jonathan Jack-Nixon had 13 and Jarrick Mitchell contributed six assists. Evergreen finished at 48 percent shooting (27-for-56), including 40 percent (8-for-20) from beyond the three-point line.

In addition to Mayernik's numbers, the Beacons got 15 points from Kenny Blackwell, 14 points each from Jack Hackman and Brock Rice, and 10 points from Brendyn Taylor.

Northwest Christian shot a torrid 63 percent (17-for-27) in the final period to finish the game at 57 percent (34-for-60), including an outstanding 48 percent (14-for-29) from beyond the three-point line. Rice was 4-for-6 from long range and Blackwell and Hackman both added a trio of triples for the visitors.
 
Both teams are in action tomorrow night, Evergreen hosting Corban and Northwest Christian playing at Northwest University.