MONMOUTH, Ore.- Senior guard Dom Hunter and sophomore Jawan Stepney each turned in double-figures for the Wildcats, but the Central Washington University men's basketball team could not avoid a 98-77 Great Northwest Athletic Conference loss to Western Oregon University on Thursday night.
 
The Wildcats returned to the hardwood following a two-week break for the holidays. Central falls to 6-3 on the season and 1-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Wolves boost their record to 5-6, 2-1 in the GNAC.
 
The Wolves were paced by Ali Faruq-Bey, who tallied 19 points (6-12) in the first half. Faruq-Bey would end the night with 22 points and eight rebounds.
 
CWU (6-3) was led throughout by Hunter and Stepney, who combined for 35 points on 37.9% shooting (11-29), nine rebounds and four assists.
 
Hunter recorded a team-high 22 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. Thursday's game marked Hunter's ninth consecutive game with 20 or more points. He shot 31.5% from the floor (6-19) against the Wolves.
 
Stepney recorded his fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season with 13 points (5-10). He also matched his career-high rebound total with five.
 
Junior center Fuquan Niles controlled the paint for the Wildcats, scoring seven points and hauling in three rebounds. Niles also recorded one block in the contest.
 
Junior forward Sage Woodruff capitalized on three of his four field goal attempts for six points.
 
Both teams traded scores on their opening possession and Central jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead following a successful jumper by Jawan Stepney. With Central leading 16-13, the Wolves strung together a 17-5 run to grab a 30-21 lead. A successful free throw followed by a layup by Niles stopped the run and brought the Wildcats within eight (24-32). The hot shooting Wolves would dominate the remainder of the half, shooting over 55% from the floor (19-34) and led by as many as 19 (46-27). The Wolves entered halftime with a 54-39 lead, holding the advantage in rebounds (26-15), as well as bench points (15-4). The Wildcats shot 38.2% (13-35) in the half.
 
Marc Rodgers slashed to the basket for Central's first score of the second half. The Wildcats would climb within 14 (45-59) following a successful three-pointer by Stepney. Unfortunately, CWU could get no closer as Western Oregon came away with the victory, 98-77.
 
The Wildcats will travel to Portland, Ore. to face Concordia University on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m.
 
-CWU-