KIRKLAND, Wash. – Ryan Ricks' three-point play with 3.8 seconds left gave Northwest (Wash.) a 73-72 win over No. 17 Southern Oregon on the opening night of Cascade Conference play Friday at Brodin Pavilion.

Ricks came up with a ball that was batted away in the paint, went up, finished and drew contact to earn the go-ahead free throw. SOU guard Teron Bradford's contested 26-footer for the win fell short on the other end.

The Raiders' inability to finish at the free-throw line proved costly. Leading 71-70 with 15 seconds left, Tate Hoffman and Jordan Hunt worked to collect an offensive rebound and, after an Eagles foul, Hoffman hit the first of two shots at the line. The second missed and went off of an Eagle out of bounds, but Raider guard Aaron Borich couldn't capitalize on another one-and-one opportunity.

SOU (5-3 overall) was in front for all but four minutes and enjoyed its biggest lead at 45-30 after a Hoffman 3-pointer with 18:35 to play before the Eagles (5-4) began chipping away.

Behind Christian Hakilimali's 13 second-half points – he finished with 20 in the game – Northwest briefly took the lead with four minutes remaining before Tez Allen's step-back 3-pointer gave it back to the Raiders, 69-67.

Allen shined on an otherwise pedestrian night offensively with a career-high 18 points and nine rebounds, shooting 4-of-5 from downtown. Jordan Hunt totaled 16 points and seven boards, Hoffman had 14 and seven and Bradford scored 10.

SOU finished 9-of-15 at the line, while the Eagles went 23-of-27. Hussayn Ford helped their cause with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Hicks scored 11.

The Raiders will try to rebound Saturday at Evergreen (Wash.). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.