Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho (Nov. 27) -- Three Central Washington players had at least 14 points, but a second-half run by Dixie State resulted in a 78-75 men's basketball loss for the Wildcats in the opening game of the NNU Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats are now 1-1 on the season, while Dixie State improved to 2-0.

Central was led by season-high totals of 16 points from junior Toussaint Tyler (Kent/Kentwood HS) and 14 from junior Humberto Perez (Yakima/A.C. Davis HS), while junior JC Cook (Canby, Ore.) scored 15 points in the Wildcats' loss.

In a game that saw 10 ties and 10 lead changes, Central and Dixie State went into the halftime intermission deadlocked at 34-34 after Cook hit a three-pointer with six seconds left in the opening period. The Wildcats spent the first part of the second half with the lead, but an 8-0 run by the Red Storm gave Dixie the lead for good. Central trailed by eight with 2:44 left but closed the deficit to three after a three-pointer by Perez and a layup by Chris Sprinker (Tacoma/Curtis HS) on consecutive possessions.

Trailing by four in the final minute, the Wildcats got to within one on a conventional three-point play by Tyler with 15 seconds. After an immediate foul by Central and back-to-back free throws by Dixie State's Kacen Smith, the Wildcats had an opportunity to force overtime but Sprinker's jumper in the closing seconds missed and Central was unable to get another game-tying scoring chance.

Central's early-season shooting woes continued against Dixie State, as the Wildcats made just 38.7 percent for the game including 35.5 percent in the second half. They did make 20 of 27 at the free-throw line but were outscored by four at the charity stripe by the Red Storm. CWU did have a 38-37 advantage in rebounding and had 13 turnovers while forcing 14 Dixie miscues.

Dixie State had four double-figure scorers, including a game-high 20 from Donovan Plunkett.

Central Washington will play Colorado-Colorado Springs at 3 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (2 p.m. Pacific) to wrap up its weekend at the NNU Thanksgiving Classic.