By Tyler Urke There wasn’t a shot sophomore forward Daulton Hommes didn’t like against Northwest Nazarene University as the starter shot a scalding 70 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The Vikings (16-6, 11-3 GNAC) snapped a 3-game losing skid with a 95-84 road victory over the Nighthawks Saturday, Feb. 3. Western shot 56 percent from 3-point land thanks to 29 points from Hommes and 25 from junior guard Trey Drechsel, who was 3-4 from 3. “We’ve been struggling from 3 throughout the year and we know we have a bunch of good shooters, so it was good to have a good shooting night tonight,” Drechsel said. Western led 48-47 at the half, and Hommes had drilled four 3s while Drechsel was a perfect 3-3 from deep. The Vikings’ weak spot in the first half was allowing points in the paint. Northwest Nazarene led 20-8 in the category thanks to multiple drives from shifty guard Obi Megwa. Western allowed 14 more points in the paint in the second half, but it also did a better job of securing defensive rebounds. The Vikings won the rebounding battle 37-27, and pacing the Vikings in rebounds was 6-foot-6 Drechsel who finished with nine. Hommes willed his team to victory with three huge 3s in the final 10 minutes. Western trailed 75-74 with 9:21 left in the game when Hommes hit his first 3, and the Vikings never surrendered their lead. “DC (Hommes) is a crazy player, but that might be the best I’ve seen him shoot,” Drechsel said. Junior forward Trevor Jasinsky said it was just a matter of finding Hommes and Drechsel before the two eventually got their shots off. “DC can score a lot of ways and he moves without the ball so well,” Jasinsky said. “We just let DC and Trey do the heavy lifting tonight.” Drechsel said the team was upset about losing three straight and wanted to come out and prove something Saturday. “It was tough for a bit because you start questioning yourself,” Drechsel said. “I think it was a matter of confidence.” Western will have a chance to prove it belongs near the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference over the following two weeks with four consecutive home games. The Vikings play host to Simon Fraser University next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
