The Auburn Adventist boys basketball team fell 75-43 to Northwest Christian on Thursday in the opening round of the state 2B Hardwood Classic at the Spokane Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

The Falcons (22-3) found themselves in a 43-20 hole at the intermission and were unable to claw their way back into the game in the second half.

Senior Gabe Chaikin had 15 points to lead Auburn Adventist, and senior center Sheldon Seui added nine points.

The 3-ball did not fall for the normally accurate Falcons in the contest, with just five of the team’s 29 shots from behind the arc finding the bottom of the net, 17.9 percent.

The loss moves Auburn Adventist into the consolation bracket and a 9 a.m. loser-out contest Friday against Okanogan, which lost 80-50 to Morton-White Pass on Thursday. The winner plays for fourth and sixth place at 8 a.m. Saturday against the winner of the Life Christian-Walla Walla Valley Academy game.