Justin Martin Recaptures National Scoring Lead With 51 Point Outburst!

by Harry Cummins


     With just four games remaining in the regular season, Multnomah's Justin Martin regained the NAIA national scoring lead Saturday night with a spectacular 51 point onslaught in a 114-107 loosing effort at the hands of Northwest Christian in a key Cascade Collegiate Conference contest.

    Northwest Christian (18-7) was able to withstand Martin's heroics thanks to the stellar performance of  6'4" senior Reece Robinson, who paced the Beacons with 38 points on a torrid 15 of 19 shooting night from the field, including (5) 3 pointers.  NCU shot a blistering 73%  in the second half to erase a 20 point deficit and solidify their hold (10-5) on 3rd place in the CCC.

    Martin, the Lions junior guard, is locked in a taut back-and-forth struggle with Cam Hunt  of Southwestern (Kan) for the national scoring title and is bidding to become the first ever NAIA scoring champion representing the CCC.   Thru games of this weekend, Martin has regained the top spot with a 31.38 ppg average, followed closely by Hunt with a 31.17 average. Each player has 4 games remaining.

     Martin now lays claim to the two highest individual scoring performances this season in NAIA D-2 basketball, following his record setting 71 point game earlier this season. His 20 field goals, included 9 3's, against Northwest Christian Saturday, and was just 1 shy of the 21 baskets he recorded in his record breaking win over Warner Pacific in December.  Martin now has 146 made 3's this season and has scored 30 or more points in a game a remarkable 14 times!

    The CCC's second leading scorer, Austin Tyner of Northwest Christian, chipped in with 25 points in the win over Multnomah, while Ernest Ugoagu and Tyrus Hosley added 20 and 18 respectively.For the Lions, Freshman Zach Richardson tallied 17 points, all of them coming in the first half, as MU built a 65-47 halftime lead.

     Multnomah (13-13,4-10) plays it's final game of the regular season at home against Northwest University on Feb 16, in what is now shaping up as a battle for the 8th and final spot in CCC post-season play.