Nunn’s Free Throws Help Lift Purdue Northwest Men Over Tiffin, 60-59
WESTVILLE, Ind. – Junior Chris Nunn (Anderson, Ind./Liberty Christian) sank a pair of free throws with 4.5 seconds left to lift the Purdue Northwest men’s basketball team to a thrilling 60-59 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) victory over Tiffin University (Ohio) Thursday night at H.D. Kesling Gymnasium in the James B. Dworkin Complex in Westville, Ind. Sophomore Franklin Nunn (Anderson, Ind./Liberty Christian) had a big game for the Pride scoring a game-high 17 points to help fuel the conference win.
Senior Torrance Johnson (Chicago Heights, Ill./Chicago Hope Academy) posted a double-double for PNW recording 14 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. Senior Tyree Coe (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) had a nice game as well with 12 points and five rebounds. Chris Nunn only scored two points in the game, but they were critical putting the Pride up for good, 60-59.
The Pride opened the game with a bang scoring two quick buckets, one on a lay-up by freshman Richard Robertson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Fort Wayne Northrup) just four seconds into the game and the other on a big dunk by Franklin Nunn. The early momentum seemed to spark the PNW offense, which built a 17-4 lead with 13:21 left to play in the first half. However, a three-pointer by Coe was the only points the Pride could manage over the next four minutes of action and the Dragons clawed back to close to within four, 20-16, with nine minutes remaining in the half.
Purdue Northwest got back on track and a three-pointer by junior Jai Wright (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) at the 6:54 mark put the hosts up, 27-18. A three-point play by Johnson extended the lead to 10, 30-20, with just under five minutes left in the half. PNW finished the half strong and took a 39-26 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Dragons came out tough early in the second half pulling to within two, 43-41, at the 15:19 mark.
The Pride led 50-43 following a pair of free throws by Franklin Nunn with 12:27 to play, but Tiffin went on a 12-0 run over the next five minutes of action to go up, 55-50. The two teams traded leads down the stretch setting the stage for Chris Nunn’s huge free throws in the closing seconds.
Purdue Northwest (2-23 overall/2-15 GLIAC) hosts Ashland University (Ohio) on Saturday, February 17, in a GLIAC battle at the Fitness and Recreation Center in Hammond, Ind. Prior to the game, the Pride will honor their three seniors for “Senior Day.” The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT start on John Friend Court.
