A streak ends for Big Bend

Spokane captures Eastern Region title, end Runnin' Vikings streak at three

MOSES LAKE — A lot was riding on Bryce Pendleton's shoulders at the free-throw line with less than a second on the clock and trailing by two to Spokane — the No. 1 seed into the NWAACC tournament and a fourth straight Eastern Region title.

Pendleton hit one free throw and with it, the Sasquatch took the Eastern region title and the No. 1 seed into the postseason with a 71-70 win over Big Bend on Wednesday.

"That is a pressure free throw and it is tough," said Big Bend head coach Mark Poth. "A lot of guys have thought about being down one with point-seven seconds to go and having to hit a free throw to put it into overtime."

Pendleton missed the second and Brandon Nielsen came up with the rebound, but never got an attempt at the basket to give the Runnin' Vikings the win.

With the loss, Big Bend takes the No. 3 seed into the NWAACC tournament which starts on March 3 at the Three Rivers Coliseum in Kennewick.

"You would like to get that No. 1 seed because the road is a little easier, but you got to go down there and beat some of the best teams in the Northwest," Poth said.

Spokane came into the game and immediately started to shut down the Runnin' Vikings. The Vikings only shot 9 of 27 from the field and 1 of 13 from behind the 3-point line, the worst first half performance by Big Bend this season.

While in the second half, Big Bend shot 57.7 percent from the field and 5 of 9 from behind the arc to pull within one point of Spokane with less than a second left in the game.

"They are probably the best defensive team in the league right now and that is probably why they were able to win the Eastern region," Poth said about Spokane.

Big Bend took an early lead on Spokane on three straight baskets from Jeff Coffman, who finished the game with 21 points and eight rebounds. Joel Ryman cut the Runnin' Vikings lead to 12-11 with a 3-pointer with 7:57 to go in the first half, setting up an 8-0 run by the Sasquatch to take the lead at 21-12 with less than five minutes to go before halftime.

Nielsen, who scored 28 in the game, kept Big Bend close late in the first half after scoring past Spokane's Jordan Hammond, drawing the foul in the process and making the free throw. Nielsen then put up a 3-pointer over Justin Bright to cut the lead to 21-18 with 3:54 left.

"Brandon is as good a player as you are going to find in the NWAACC," Poth said. "He shot almost 50 percent from the field tonight and played a great game."

Nielsen finished with eight points in the first half, but came alive and helped cut into Spokane's lead in the second half with 20 points, including four 3-pointers.

Nielsen hit consecutive 3's with 12:47 left in the half to cut the lead to 45-44 for Spokane, then he and Coffman added four straight points for Big Bend to put the Runnin' Vikings up 50-49 with 9:51 to play.

Bright, who finished with 12 points for Spokane, hit a 3 of his own to regain the lead for the Sasquatch at 54-52, then never looked back.

"Spokane has proven they are a tough team," Poth said. "They came in on our home floor and beat us, which is something we haven't done all year. It was a great game and we take our hats off to Spokane."