Colton Kooima scored a game-high 32 points in leading 11th-ranked Northwestern to a 90-72 win over Bethesda University (Calif.) in the final game of the Bill Reynolds Holiday Classic in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The Red Raiders earned their fifth straight win and improve to 14-2 on the season while Bethesda slips to 4-11.

Kooima shot 50%, going 12-for-24 from the field, and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line in recording his fifth 30+-point game of the season. The senior also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Derek Buysse added 15 points and Parker Mulder matched his career-high with 14 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor, to go with a career-high seven assists. Nathan Wedel was a fourth Red Raider to put up double figures, contributing 14 points and six boards. 

Both teams held the lead in a back-and-forth first half that ended with Bethseda holding a 42-40 advantage. The Flames surged head by seven late in the opening frame (39-32) but an 8-3 run, finished off by five straight points by Kooima, to close the half put NWC within striking distance.

Northwestern shot 50% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, going 2/9 (22%) in the opening 20 minutes. The Flames shot 45% from the field and 30% from the three-point line in the first half.

The teams traded baskets over the first 10 minutes of the second half until, tied at 63, a three-point play by Kooima began a decisive 13-2 run to put the Red Raiders in front 76-65 with 5:53 left to play. Bethesda made it a nine-point game (78-69 at the five-minute mark but Northwestern closed the game with a 12-3 run to earn its fifth straight win.

Northwestern shot nearly 60% over the final 20 minutes and held Bethesda to 29% (9/31). The Red Raiders were outrebounded 39-37 and gave up 17 offensive boards to the Flames.

Gabriel Adersteg led Bethesda with 29 points, going 4-for-6 from the three-point line.