BOX SCORE

PHOENIX --- The Biola men's basketball team fought back from an early 12-point deficit, but could not hold on to a late lead in a 56-49 loss to Northwest Oklahoma State Friday at the Grand Canyon Classic in Phoenix.

The Eagles, who drop to 6-6 with their fourth straight loss, were led by Rocky Hampton, who had 13 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting night.

Shane Hanson, who scored 20 points--including nine of the last 11 to ice the game, helped Northwest Oklahoma State to improve 7-3 overall on the year.

Biola fell behind early, trailing 14-4 just seven minutes into the contest and was down 28-16 with 5:51 remaining in the half. But the Eagles caught fire and went on a 19-5 run spanning halftime to take a two-point lead.

The two teams battled back and forth for the rest of the half with Biola taking another two point lead at 49-47 on a Matt Emadi running layin with 3:31 remaining. But that would be the last points for the Eagles.

Hanson put Northwest Oklahoma State back on top with a deep three just over a minute later, then hit four free throws in the final seconds to ice the game.

Biola struggled mightily from three-point range missing all 10 shots attempted from beyond the arc. The Eagles have hit just 13 of their last 69 three pointers over its four-game losing streak, though eight came on Thursday night in 29 attempts.

Biola's losing streak is its longest since the 1994-95 season when it dropped five-straight games three different times en route to a 10-21 record. The Eagles have lost five of its six games by seven or fewer points and three by three or fewer.

Biola hopes to get back on track in the final game of the Grand Canyon Classic as it takes on Southwestern College of Kansas at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.