Box Score
NAMPA, Idaho (Nov. 26) -- Central Washington University senior
Chris Scott (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza HS) scored a career-high 15 points off the bench for the Wildcats as they upended 11th-ranked Metropolitan State College of Denver, 71-55, on Friday afternoon at the Crusader Thanksgiving Classic at the Johnson Sports Center.
“We took care of business today,” said CWU head coach
Greg Sparling. “We came out aggressive and our guys played very well against a tough team.”
The Wildcats remained undefeated on the young season with a 3-0 record, while the 11th-ranked Roadrunners fell to 2-1.
Scott made five of his six shots, including three of four three pointers, and added five rebounds.
“Scott had a really good game,” Sparling added. “He came off the bench and shot well, especially the three-pointer.”
Senior
Chris Sprinker (Tacoma/Curtis HS), who made his 2010-11 regular-season debut on Friday, was the only other Wildcat to score in double figures with 17 points, 16 of which came in the second half, and hauled down six rebounds with five blocked shots.
As a team, Central dominated statistically, outrebounding Metro State 44-28, and the Wildcats' 44.6 shooting percentage was almost nine percentage points higher than the Roadrunners.
Central would go on an early 11-1 first half run that was bookended by made baskets from Scott. The Wildcats used that momentum to take a 30-26 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, the Wildcats cruised ahead of Metro State, leading by double figures for the final 13:07 of the game with their largest lead reaching 18 points. The Wildcats shot 46.7 percent in the second half and sank five of eight three-point attempts.
Central's leading scorer,
Jamar Berry (Tacoma/Franklin Pierce HS), came into Friday's game averaging 25.5 points per game but was held to just seven points by the Roadrunners, due largely to foul trouble.
Although the Wildcats lost the turnover battle 17-13, Central was able to capitalize on Metro's miscues as they converted those 13 turnovers into 19 points.
The Roadrunners also had just two players reach double figures, and were led by Jonathan Morse, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Central wraps up its stay at the two-day Crusader Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, taking on Sonoma State University at 4 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (3 p.m. Pacific). The Wildcats will then return home briefly before opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference next Tuesday (Nov. 30) at Western Oregon.
