Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Jan. 5) -- Junior Mark McLaughlin (Bothell/Inglemoor HS) scored nine points in the final 34.5 seconds, helping the Central Washington University men's basketball team defeat the University of Alaska Anchorage, 81-72, on Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

With the win, the Wildcats salvaged a weekend split with the Alaska schools and improved to 8-4 on the season and 2-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. UAA, ranked 25th nationally in the most recent NABC/Division II poll, fell to 8-4 and 1-3 in the GNAC.

McLaughlin, the leading scorer in the GNAC at 23.4 points per game, reached his scoring average with his flurry in the final minute of the contest. His jump shot with 34.5 seconds left gave CWU a 74-72 lead, and the 6-foot-6 guard then iced the game with a steal and seven free throws in the final 10.8 seconds. That surge at the free throw line in the closing seconds was aided by a pair of technical fouls and ejection of UAA coach Rusty Osborne with 4.2 seconds remaining, with McLaughlin making three of four technical free throws and two of two shots on the original foul.

CWU had led by as many as 20 points -- 59-39 -- with 14:35 to go, but Alaska Anchorage went on a 17-0 run over the next 4 1/2 minutes to make it a three-point differential. The Wildcats held onto the lead until the final minute, when UAA senior Abebe Demissie was fouled on a three-point attempt with 53.7 seconds left and a two-point CWU lead. Demissie missed the first but made the next two to tie the game. After a timeout, McLaughlin hit the go-ahead basket and then corralled steals on consecutive possessions to help seal the victory.

Both teams came out shooting extremely well, with Alaska Anchorage surging in front by as many as eight in the opening four minutes of the game. CWU closed the gap, and gained its first lead at the 12:07 mark on a layup by senior Derrick Davis (Tacoma/Clover Park HS) as part of a 15-3 spurt for the home team. The Wildcats took a commanding 12-point lead into halftime. That lead was aided by a first half in which CWU shot 56.7 percent and did not commit a turnover, and was in spite of a 52.4-percent shooting effort from the Seawolves, who made 6 of 11 three-pointers in the period.

The Wildcats' superb possession carried over into the second half, as they did not commit a turnover for the first 6 1/2 minutes of the period. CWU finished the game with just five miscues -- two more than the school and conference record for fewest turnovers in a game.

The shooting tailed off for both teams in the final 20 minutes, as CWU made just 34.4 percent (11 of 32) in the second half and finished the game at 45.2 percent (28 of 62). Alaska Anchorage hit on 42.3 percent (11 of 26) after halftime, and each team converted on 16 free throws in the final period -- with the Wildcats going 16 for 18 at the stripe and the Seawolves were 16 for 23. CWU finished the game making 19 of its 22 free throw attempts overall.

Individually, McLaughlin led four Wildcat players in double figures. Davis had a strong all-around contest with 14 points and eight rebounds, making six of his eight field-goal attempts. Reserves Jordan Coby (Sr., Tacoma/Wilson HS) and Nate Walker (Jr., Tacoma/Henry Foss HS) added 11 and 10 points, respectively, with Coby making three three-pointers. Starter Brandon Magee (Sr., Spanaway/Bethel HS) finished with seven points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

Alaska Anchorage was led by its top scorer, junior Kyle Fossman, who scored 24 points. He was the lone Seawolf in double figures, although Collin Spickerman finished with nine points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots in 15 minutes of reserve action.

CWU will return to the road next weekend for a pair of games, beginning with a regionally-televised contest (on ROOT Sports) against archrival Western Washington University on Thursday (Jan. 10) at 9:10 p.m. in Bellingham The Wildcats will then visit Simon Fraser University on Saturday (Jan. 12) before returning home on Jan. 17 to face Montana State University Billings.