Box Score

Sixth-ranked Northwestern College downed Hastings 88-78 for its 13th straight win on Wednesday night at the Bultman Center. Northwestern stays unbeaten in GPAC play with a 6-0 record, 13-1 overall, while Hastings has its three-game win streak snapped and falls to 3-2 in the conference, 6-6 overall.

Riley Francis led the Red Raiders with 18 points and 11 rebounds, his first career double-double. The junior knocked down 4-of-6 three-point attempts and also dished out three assists. Chris Borchers netted a career-high 16 points, making a career-best three three-pointers. Jordan Baker and Derek Buysse were also in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

How It Happened...

Northwestern never trailed and opened the game with a 22-8 run over the first seven minutes. 

Free throws by Francis stretched the hosts lead to 19 later and a 7-0 run, capped by a Borchers three-pointer, put Northwestern up 24 (47-23) just before the half. Rich Williams knocked down a long three-pointer as time expired to make it a 21-point Northwestern lead at the half.

Derek Buysse finished off a 13-4 run giving Northwestern its largest lead to date, 63-35, at the 16-minute mark. Five minute later, a Jordan Baker jumper gave the hosts a 28-point advantage (73-45) with 11 minutes to go. 

The Broncos outscored Northwestern 29-10 over a 10-minute span to get as close as nine over the final minutes.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 50% from the field and from the three-point arc (10/20); eighth time this season the Red Raiders have shot 50% or better from the field

Red Raiders held a commanding 46-35 edge on the boards and have now outrebounded their opponent in all but two games

Northwestern committed 20 turnovers compared to 11 by the Broncos

Francis has scored in double figures eight times this season and has three games with 10+ rebounds

Borchers has reached double figures in two of his last three games; the sophomore made 3-of-his-4 three-point attempts

Nathan Wedel dished out a game-high five assists

Four Hastings players scored in double figures, led by Jake Hansen with 26 and Trey Moore with 14