NAMPA, Idaho (Feb. 28) - Freshman forward G.J. Macon drained eight straight three-pointers to help build an early lead, and the Seawolf men's basketball team held on for an 82-79 win at Montgomery Fieldhouse tonight.

Macon finished with a career-high 29 points for UAA (9-17, 9-8 GNAC), while senior Josh Cooprider led NNU (9-18, 5-12) with 20 points. The win ensures the Seawolves of finishing at least .500 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with one game remaining Saturday at Seattle University.

The Seawolves, who got 14 points apiece from Peter Bullock and Nathon Glover, led by as many as 13 in the first half and maintained a 67-56 advantage with 7:54 left in the game.

But hot three-point shooting by NNU's Tyler Jeans (19 points) brought the Crusaders within 76-75 before the Seawolves sealed the game with six free throws in the final minute.

Senior guard Ty Shippen, who hit the first two of those charity tosses, finished with 13 points (5-8 FG) and a game-high six assists. Shippen and teammate Bryson Vaughan (5 assists, game-high 5 steals) both played in front of friends and family in their home state. Shippen is from Menan and Vaughan, a junior, is from Malad.

Macon, who stands 6-foot-8, didn't miss from long range until midway through the second half, finishing 8 for 10 for the game on treys. He also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action.