From the NWAC Website:

PASCO, Wash. — The Lane Titans (15-14, 9-7) completed the second big upset of the tournament as they knocked off No. 1 seed Green River (23-7, 12-2) in Game 7 of the 2026 NWAC Men's Basketball Championship on Thursday at Columbia Basin College.

The Titans capitalized on their overall shooting efficiency, finishing with a 50% field goal percentage and a 40.9% success rate from beyond the arc, while also knocking down 15-of-18 free throws. AJ Austin took over the game late as he dropped 30 points with 12 rebounds to lift Lane over the West Region Champions.

The game began with Lane taking an early lead as Nathan Stiffler hit a jumper in the initial seconds. The Titans then went on a significant scoring run, with Steven Adams and Austin contributing key baskets, extending the lead to 12 points at the 7:56 mark of the first half. Green River responded with a late surge. However, Lane regained control with Joey Banry's assist to Justin Davis for a three-pointer, and a defensive block by Austin in the final seconds helped the Titans close the half with a 35-33 advantage.

The Gators briefly held a three-point lead at the 9:18 mark, but the Titans responded with a strong offensive performance to dominate the latter minutes of the half. Austin was instrumental, scoring consistently, including a jumper with 7:42 remaining to regain the lead for Lane. With 4:17 to play, Lane led 65-63 but went on a 12-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to go up 77-63, eventually claiming the double-digit win.

Austin scored 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting with 12 rebounds to lead Lane. Banry was effective in facilitating the offense, leading with five assists and adding nine points. Davis showcased his shooting accuracy, making 4-of-6 three-point attempts, resulting in a total of 12 points.

The Titans earned their first victory in the tournament since 2022 and move onto the Elite 8 round where they will face Edmonds on Friday at 4 p.m. Green River finishes a strong season with a 23-7 overall record, earning its first West Region title since 2003.