Northwest Outlasts No. 22 LC State in Kirkland

The Eagles snapped the Warriors' six-game win streak in a close conference matchup.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Northwest (Wash.) defeated No. 22 LC State Men's Basketball 82-77 in a game that came down to free throw shooting. The Eagles were a perfect 22-for-22 from the line, which proved to be the difference in the back-and-forth contest. LC State's Dylan Skaife led all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while John Lustig added 14 points for the Warriors.

Why it matters

This loss moves LC State to 20-6 overall and 14-4 in Cascade Conference play, putting them in a three-way tie for the top spot in the conference with two games remaining in the regular season. The Warriors were looking to extend their six-game win streak, but Northwest's aggressive and physical play proved too much to overcome.

The details

Northwest jumped out to an early 11-7 lead, but LC State battled back to take a 29-22 advantage midway through the first half. The lead continued to change hands throughout the game, with Northwest pulling ahead late and holding on for the 82-77 victory. The Eagles' perfect performance at the free throw line was a key factor, as the Warriors struggled to defend without fouling.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Northwest (Wash.)

The Northwest Eagles are the men's basketball team of Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington.

LC State

LC State, or Lewis-Clark State College, is a public university located in Lewiston, Idaho. Their men's basketball team, the Warriors, were ranked No. 22 in the country heading into this game.

Dylan Skaife

A player for the LC State Warriors, Skaife led all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

John Lustig

A player for the LC State Warriors, Lustig scored 14 points in the loss.

Grayson Hunt

A player for the LC State Warriors, Hunt scored 12 points and had a team-high six rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“Credit to Northwest. They were the much more aggressive and physical team. We could never match them, and they kept getting into the paint without much resistance from us. We really struggled to defend without fouling and that's been an Achilles heel for us all year. Disappointing, but we'll look to bounce back for a huge weekend at home.”

— Austin Johnson, LC State Head Coach (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The loss puts LC State in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Cascade Conference with two games remaining in the regular season. The Warriors will look to bounce back with a crucial homestand this weekend.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of free throw shooting, as Northwest's perfect performance from the line proved to be the difference against the physical and aggressive play of the No. 22 Warriors. LC State will need to shore up its defense and ability to avoid fouling if they hope to regain sole possession of the conference lead in the final weeks of the season.