ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Dom Hunter and Naim Ladd combined to score 49 points as the Central Washington University men's basketball team defeated Northwest Nazarene 94-80 Tuesday night to improve to 8-3 on the season and 3-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Crusaders fall to 5-6, 2-3 in the GNAC.
 
Hunter led all scorers with 27 points on 9 of 19 shooting, including 7 of 11 from three-point territory.  The senior scored 16 points in the second half, missing just two of his seven field goal attempts.
 
Ladd added 22 points, making five three pointers.  He also dished out a team-high six assists, along with four rebounds and two steals.
 
"These two were electric tonight, and have been for the majority of the season," Sparling said about the play of Hunter and Ladd.  "I wish I could pick up Nicholson Pavilion and take it on the road with us, we can really light it up on this floor."
 
As a team, the Wildcats shot 49.3 percent from the field and 55.6 percent (15 of 27) from long range.  Central also tied a season high with 25 assists, while turning the ball over just nine times.
 
"We shared the ball very well tonight," Sparling added.  "We consistently found the open player, and we knocked down good looks all night.  But more importantly, we took care of the basketball.  When we shoot as well as we did tonight, and refuse to turn over the basketball, we are tough to beat."
 
The Wildcats held a 43-40 lead heading into halftime, thanks to Hunter nailing a three-pointer as time expired.  The Crusaders shot 51.9 percent from the field in the opening half while the Wildcats hit on 42.5 percent of their shots.
 
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-point lead less than two minutes into the second half behind a pair of triples from Hunter and one from Terry Dawn.  Central remained in control in the second half, leading by as many as 20 points in the stanza before taking the 94-80 victory.
 
Also scoring in double figures for the Wildcats was Jawan Stepney and Fuquan Niles who had 14 and 10 points, respectively.  Niles also added nine rebounds and four blocks.
 
Olivier Pol led the Crusaders with 20 points, followed by Maurice Jones and Bouna N'Diaye with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
 
The Wildcats return to action this Thursday, Jan. 5, when they travel to Montana State Billings for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Yellowjackets.