ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 4) -- The Central Washington University men's basketball team defeated Pacific Lutheran University 95 to 69 Friday evening in Nicholson Pavilion in front of 1,271 fans.
 
The Wildcats led from beginning to end, sparked by back-to-back-to-back three pointers by Naim Ladd to give the Wildcats an early 11-2 lead.  The Wildcats carried that momentum throughout the first half, taking a 51-35 lead into the half.
 
Jerome Bryant, Terry Dawn and Jawan Stepney opened the second half with layups as the Wildcats extended their lead to 19 points less than three minutes into the stanza.  Stepney and Fuquan Niles electrified the crowd with a pair of rim-rattling dunks, with a three by Ladd sandwiched inbetween.  A fast break dunk by Dom Hunter and a layup by Coleman Sparling gave the Wildcats the final 26-point advantage at 95-69.
 
Ladd led the Wildcats with 22 points on 7 of 13 shooting, 5 of 8 from behind the arc.  Niles and Hunter each added 12, with Niles adding seven rebounds and four blocks.  Also scoring in double figures for CWU were Stepney and Bryant who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Central Washington connected on 55.2-percent of their shots and forced 12 turnovers by the Lutes.
 
PLU guard Brandon Lester scored a game-high 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting.
 
The Wildcats open their 2016-17 season next week when they travel to Seaside California where they play Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Monterey bay on Nov. 11 and 12, respectively.