NWC scores two wins in Shoot OutA second chance was all Mitch Ackelson needed. Awarded new life thanks to a lane violation by Eastern Utah, the Northwest College sophomore calmly drained a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds left. The shots extended the Trappers' lead to two possessions to cement a 78-74 win Saturday night in the First National Bank Shoot Out.

“The rules say you have to have two players standing down low unless it is a technical,” explained NWC head coach Andy Ward.

“When he shot the first time, they didn't have anyone standing down there.”

As a result, Ackelson's initial miss with the Trappers ahead by only two points was nullified.

The late-game controversy injected a bit of drama into a game that, for much of the second half, didn't appear as though it would have any. After carrying a 37-34 lead into halftime, the Trappers wasted little time in constructing a double-digit advantage on the scoreboard.

The Trappers' lead peaked at 13 points, 54-41, and largely remained in double figures. As the contest headed into the waning minutes, it appeared as though NWC would be able to breathe easy.

Appearances can be deceiving. Eastern Utah's Isiah Williams connected on three of his five three-point baskets in the final 2:30 of regulation to shoot the Golden Eagles back into contention and melt the Trappers' lead down to two points.

“We relaxed too much,” said Ward. “That was one of the things we really talked about in the locker room after the game. We've got to play the full 40 minutes.”

Williams finished with 31 points to pace all scorers in the contest.

The Trappers took a more balanced approach to the night's scoring, keyed by 19 points from Demetrice Jacobs. Alfonzo Hubbard added 16 points while Ricardo Andreotti ended his night with a double-double, netting 10 points and pulling in 13 rebounds against the larger Eagles' frontline.

Similar to the first meeting of the year between the two schools, Eastern Utah held a decided 52-31 edge in rebounding. The Trappers again compensated by forcing 23 turnovers from the visiting squad.

NWC 112, Western Montana 57

Unlike Saturday's late-game drama, Friday's Shoot Out opener between the Trappers and Western Montana contained no final-second questions. Northwest College dominated play from the opening tap in a 112-57 rout.

Five players scored in double figures for Northwest College as the Trappers topped the century mark for the second time this season. NWC was led by Hubbard with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Also scoring in double digits for the Trappers were Jacobs (16 points), Chantz Ramos (15), Valdez Green (12), and Casper Hesseldal (11). As a team, the Trappers knocked down two of every three shots they attempted in the contest, including an 8-for-14 showing from three-point territory. Those numbers stood in stark contrast to the performance of Western Montana, which struggled in hitting just over 28 percent of its shots from the floor.