Tritons Overcome First Half Deficit to Defeat Blue Mountain 77-74

PASCO, Wash. — Edmonds (20-11, 9-5) secured a narrow victory over Blue Mountain (18-11, 11-3) with a final score of 77-74 in Game 8 of the 2026 NWAC Men's Basketball Championship on Thursday night at Columbia Basin College.

The Tritons overcame a seven-point deficit at halftime, taking control in the closing seconds of the game. Avidan West had 22 points including the eventual game-winning basket for Edmonds to earn them a trip to the Elite 8 for the third time in the past four seasons.

The first half began with the Timberwolves gaining an early edge as Ezra Carter's layup at 19:01 gave them the initial lead. The Tritons responded with Hunter White's layup at 15:54, which tied the score at 4, before taking the lead shortly after. BMCC then shifted momentum with a 9-point lead at the 5:58 mark, driven by consistent scoring from Jacob Campbell and Demontay Kyle. Despite Edmonds' efforts, including Adonai Daniel's three-pointer at 1:20, the Timberwolves maintained the advantage, finishing the half ahead 36-29.

In the second half, Edmonds mounted a strong comeback to secure a 77-74 victory over BMCC. Daniel's key 3-pointer at the 1:51 mark gave the Tritons a 71-69 lead, and Avidan West's dunk with 19 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winning basket. Isaiah Lopez added two crucial free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. The Timberwolves' late 3-pointer by Campbell cut the deficit to one, but Edmonds got the ball in bounce with Kyrylo Kapinos' dunk as time expired ensuring the Tritons' victory.

West emerged as a standout player for Edmonds, leading the team with 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. He also contributed defensively with four rebounds. Daniel demonstrated efficiency by scoring 18 points, making 6 of his 10 attempts, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. White dominated the boards, securing 17 total rebounds, with 12 on the defensive end, while also adding 8 points.

Carter emerged as a key player for BMCC, leading the team with 18 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting performance. His efforts on the boards were also notable, contributing five total rebounds. Campbell was another standout, scoring 13 points and making three of his eight attempts from beyond the arc. Additionally, Kyle played a crucial role with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks,

The Tritons will move onto the Elite 8 and take on Lane on Friday at 4 p.m. Blue Mountain enjoyed its best season in over 15 years, reaching the NWAC tournament for the first time since 2009. The Timberwolves finish with an 18-10 overall record, taking second place in the East Region.