EUGENE, Ore. – The Multnomah University men's basketball team hit 13 three-pointers but it wasn't enough to lift them past the Beacons of Northwest Christian as they fall 103-83 on Saturday night in the Morse Event Center.
 
The loss drops the Lions to 4-14 overall on the year and 1-9 in the Cascade Conference while the Beacons improve to 16-4, 9-1 CCC to hold a share of first place in the CCC standings.
 
Junior forward Thomas Simien recorded 18 points along with eight rebounds in the loss while Blake Updike led the team with 22 points. Ben Grandle hit a team high four 3-pointers to earn 14 points on the night while Trevor Cooley and Jason Wyncoop each had nine points.
 
After a three by Updike gave the Lions the lead in the opening minutes of play, NCU answered back with another three of their own to take the lead for the remainder of the night. Using a 12-3 run late in the first half, the Beacons headed into halftime with a 45-27 advantage.
 
For Northwest Christian, Omar Richards ended the night with 22 points and Javonte Bird had 18 points, both players hit four shots from behind the arc. Jordan Alexander had 14 points while Donta Harris and Jack Hackman had 12 and 11 points respectively.
 
The Beacons shot 55 percent from the field in the second half of play including going 10-of-17 from the 3-point line. They earned their largest lead of the night after two free throws by Harris gave NCU an 89-65 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
 
The Lions will return to action next week when they host Walla Walla University on Saturday for a late CCC game beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Jim Skagen Court.