Monday, January 11, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ezekiel Alley’s first start in a Northwest Nazarene uniform was a memorable one.

The senior guard led the Nighthawks to just their second-ever win over a Division I opponent on Saturday. The performance has earned Alley selection as the first GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the 2020-21 season.

In the 75-72 win at Portland State, Alley led all scorers with 27 points as he connected on 9 of 20 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 6 of 8 from the free throw line in 29 minutes of action. His scoring ledger included a contested jumper as the shot clock expired with 52 seconds left that gave NNU a four-point lead and three free throws in the final 20 seconds that sealed the win.

The effort helped provide Northwest Nazarene its second win over a Division I opponent in three years. The Nighthawks’ first win over a Division I opponent was a 77-73 win over Idaho on Nov. 23, 2018.

A transfer from Fullerton Junior College for the 2019-20 season, Alley was a sparkplug off the bench for NNU last year. He led the Nighthawks in scoring with 16.3 points per game in 25 games and went on to earn Second Team All-GNAC honors.

Alley and the rest of the Nighthawks will continue their abbreviated 2021 season this week with a three-game southern California road trip. Northwest Nazarene plays at Concordia Irvine on Thursday, Point Loma on Friday and Biola on Saturday.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 1
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Ezekiel Alley (Northwest Nazarene, G, 6-0, Sr., Tucson, Ariz. – Fullerton JC): Making his first-ever start for the Nighthawks, Alley led all scorers with 27 points in NNU’s season-opening 75-72 upset of Division I Portland State in Portland. Alley connected 9 of 20 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 6 of 8 from the free throw line to go along with four rebounds, two assists and three steals. He hit a number of key shots down the stretch, including a contested jumper as the shot clock expired with 52 seconds to go and three free throws in the final 20 seconds. Also Nominated: Tyke Thompson (Saint Martin’s).