Box Score
SEATTLE (Dec. 29) -- The combination of
JC Cook (Canby, Ore.),
Jon Clift (Spokane/Joel E. Ferris HS), and
Riley Sivak (Ellensburg) totaled 59 points and made 25 of 30 at the free throw line in leading the Central Washington men's basketball team to an 84-77 victory over Colorado Christian in the opening game of the Falcons Tournament at Brougham Pavilion on Tuesday evening.
The Wildcats improved to 5-4 on the season and have now won three of their last four games. Colorado Christian fell to 1-7 with its third consecutive loss.
Cook led all players with 24 points including 8 of 10 at the foul line, while Clift made 10 of 12 free throws and finished with 18 points in 38 minutes of action. Sivak scored a career-high 17 points and led the Wildcats with seven rebounds including six on the offensive end.
Central overcame a one-point halftime deficit, which it faced despite leading for most of the first half. The Wildcats led by as many as nine points in the opening period and did not trail until the 5:52 mark, and they traded baskets and leads with the Cougars for the remainder of the half. However, a three-pointer by Colorado Christian with 11 seconds left before halftime gave CCU a 42-41 halftime lead.
Neither team took control in the second half until less than five minutes remained. Facing a 66-65 deficit, Central scored six straight points over a 59-second stretch to go ahead by five with 3:43 left and was the start of a 13-4 run that put the Wildcats in front by eight with 1:43 left. Cook and Clift then each made three of four free throws the rest of the way to help keep the CWU advantage at five points or more before the final seven-point margin.
In addition to their season-best point total at the free throw line, the Wildcats also committed a season-low nine turnovers while forcing the Cougars into 24 miscues. Central was outrebounded, 44-29.
Colorado Christian had three players in double figures, including 21 apiece from Justin Neuhaus and Jobi Wall. Wall also had nine rebounds for the Cougars, while Tyler House had nine points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Central Washington continues tournament play on Wednesday evening (Dec. 30) at 5 p.m. against Academy of Art University. The Wildcats will then debut Great Northwest Athletic Conference play in their next home game on Jan. 7, 2010, at Nicholson Pavilion against Western Oregon.
