Box Score

LAIE, Hawaii (Nov. 17) -- Junior Mark McLaughlin (Bothell/Inglemoor HS) led four Central Washington University men's basketball players in double figures with 29 points, and the Wildcats held off a late rally from Hawaii Pacific University in earning an 88-81 win over the Sea Warriors on the final day of the GNAC/PacWest Challenge at the Cannon Activities Center.

The Wildcats improved to 3-1 with the win, and completed a two-game sweep at the tournament. CWU defeated tournament host BYU-Hawaii, 88-83, on Friday night. Hawaii Pacific fell to 0-2 on the season.

“I'm proud of our guys with the way they came to Hawaii and defeated two quality PacWest schools,” CWU head coach Greg Sparling said. “We took a huge step forward this weekend, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The Wildcats' victory over Hawaii Pacific was keyed by a strong effort at the free throw line and in the turnover department, as CWU made 31 of 41 free throws (75.6 percent) and committed just nine turnovers. HPU had 20 turnovers in the contest.

As had been the case in Friday's win over BYU-Hawaii, the game was close throughout with eight ties and nine lead changes. The score was deadlocked at halftime, 40-40, and the Wildcats did not go in front to stay until the 9:57 mark in the second half, when junior Chris Holmes (Seattle/Franklin HS) converted on a traditional three-point play. The CWU lead was as many as 12 before Hawaii Pacific scored the game's final five points.

McLaughlin, the team's leading scorer at 26.5 points per game, converted on 9 of 16 field-goal attempts and all 10 of his free throw tries in Saturday's victory. He scored 16 points in the second half, including 7 of 7 at the line, and the Wildcats iced the victory by making 20 of 27 at the stripe over the final 20 minutes.

Holmes and senior Brandon Magee (Spanaway/Bethel HS) each added 15 points, while Nate Walker (University Place/Curtis HS) chipped in 12. CWU finished the game at 46.4 percent from the field (26 of 56) while attempting just 12 three-pointers.

Hawaii Pacific had five scorers in double figures, with 14 apiece from Malte Ziegenhagen and Jeffery Neal. Center Marko Cukic had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Sea Warriors to a 35-31 rebounding advantage.

CWU will now have the next eight days off before returning to action with its home opener on Nov. 26 against Walla Walla University at Nicholson Pavilion. Great Northwest Athletic Conference play will commence on Nov. 29 at Saint Martin's University.