FOREST GROVE, Oregon – The University of Northwestern men's basketball team took the court at the Stoller Center on Saturday evening as they faced Pacific University for the first time in school history. Despite climbing within two points of the Boxers with eight minutes remaining, the Eagles fell in a high-scoring 121-109 final.
 
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 6-6 on the year as Pacific improves to 6-5 overall, including a 3-0 mark on their home court. Northwestern will return home from its west coast trip with an even slate (having defeated Willamette in Friday night action).
 
After trailing by eight at the half (57-49), Northwestern displayed consistent offense to cut away at the deficit. Second half play featured back-and-forth scoring despite a stretch of 3:20 where the Boxers held UNW to no field goals (just free throw attempts) that ultimately extended the lead down the stretch.
 
The Eagles led in several team categories including rebounds, field goal and free throw percentages, but committed an unprecedented 21 turnovers that Pacific converted into 15 points. Northwestern was also unable to stop the Boxers' sharp shooting from beyond the arc – allowing 16 three-pointers in the contest.
 
A trio of Eagles put together 20+ point games led by Tanner Youngberg (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) who finished with 25. Youngberg secured his seventh double-double after also pulling down a team-best 15 rebounds.
 
Anderson Bazile Jr. (Houston, Tex./San Antonio Reagan) added 24 points and Noah Alm (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) finished with 23. Bazile and Alm each connected on three shots from three-point range.
 
Caleb Hageman (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) and Brady Bellefeuille (Frazee, Minn./Frazee) added 10 points apiece on the night.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Wednesday, January 2^nd when they return to Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play and take on Northland College in Ashland, Wis. Tipoff is slated for 7:15 p.m.