Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Feb. 22) -- Senior Jamar Berry (Tacoma/Franklin Pierce HS) scored a game-high 24 points, leading five Central Washington University men's basketball players in double figures as the 11th-ranked Wildcats defeated visiting Saint Martin's University, 83-70, late Tuesday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

Central earned its 15th Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory of the season (15-2) and improved to 22-3 overall. Saint Martin's fell to 14-13 overall and 7-10 in GNAC play.

The game, originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off, did not start until 9:54 p.m. Pacific Standard Time -- the latest local start time for a Wildcat basketball game in nearly 14 years. The delay was due to travel difficulties encountered by Saint Martin's traversing over Snoqualmie Pass.

Berry was 8 of 15 from the field, 7 of 7 from the free throw line, and totaled a team-high seven rebounds. Berry has now scored as least 20 points in four consecutive contests.

Central Washington led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but the Saints finished the opening period with an 11-1 run, deadlocking the score at 38-38 at intermission. Saint Martin's outrebounded (21-16) and outshot (46.2 percent-42.9 percent) the Wildcats in the first half, but Central made three more field goals in the half and forced nine Saints turnovers.

Saint Martin's took a quick three-point lead at the 18:28 mark in the second half on a three-pointer by Blake Poole. The Wildcats responded by using a 33-13 run to take their largest lead -- 17 points -- with 6:02 left in regulation. Central led by double figures for the remainder of the game, ending with a final 13-point advantage.

Central shot 56.7 percent in the second half, and finished with a nearly five percent edge (49.2-44.4 percent) in shooting for the game. The Wildcats outrebounded SMU 36-30, including a 10-6 margin on the offensive glass.

The Wildcat defense, which averaged 5.3 blocks per game coming into the contest, rejected seven Saints shots in the game. Central also had seven steals while forcing 14 turnovers.

Senior Chris Sprinker (Tacoma/Curtis HS) had 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks on the evening. Also scoring in double digits was junior Jody Johnson (Seattle/Franklin HS) with 11 points and six rebounds, as well as seniors Humberto Perez (Yakima/A.C. Davis HS) and Chris Scott (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza HS), who scored 10 points each.

Saint Martin's was led by Poole, who had a team-high 21 points and game-high 10 rebounds. Roger O'Neill had 14 points for the Saints, including 12 in the first half, while Galen Squires added 10.

Central Washington will next host Western Oregon on Senior Night this Thursday (Feb. 24) at 7:30 p.m., with the recognition of six seniors who play their final regular season game at Nicholson Pavilion.