The Wildcats finish up the 2017 portion of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this week when they play host to conference leading Northwest Nazarene this Tuesday, Dec. 19 in Wenatchee at the Town Toyota Center at 7 p.m.
 
Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased HERE. (Note – This game is NOT included in season ticket packages – Tickets for this game must be purchased separately)
 
There will also be a pregame Alumni Event from 5:15-7 p.m. in the Top Shelf Lounge located at the Town Toyota Center
 
LIVE STATS & VIDEO: Wildcatsports.com/Live
RADIO: Locally, 88.1 F.M – iHeart Radio | Stream
 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Central Washington is fresh off an 80-75 road victory over Montana State University Billings to capture its first GNAC win of the season.  The Wildcats are now 5-4 on the season and 1-2 in the GNAC.
 
Pounding the Paint
The Wildcats were held without a three-pointer last game for the first time in at least 586 games – a streak that spanned 21 years – But it was due in large part to their stellar play down low.
 
The Wildcats scored 56 points near the rim led by Fuquan Niles' career-high 23 points on 9 of 14 shooting – including 6 of 6 in the first half.  The Wildcats have scored 114 points in the paint in its last two contests.
 
Turnovers
The Wildcats lead the GNAC with 17.6 forced turnovers per game, and a third with a turnover margin of +2.78.
 
Although the Wildcats are third in the GNAC with 9.1 steals per game, it is their contestant pressure and help defense that leads to opponent mistakes.
 
Khalil Shabazz leads all players with 2.8 steals per game where he ranks 9^th nationally.
 
Oncoming Sage
Sage Woodruff has given the Wildcats meaningful minutes off the bench, scoring 16 points in reserve in each of the Wildcats last three games and has shot 50.0-percent over the span.
 
For the season, Woodruff is averaging 8.1 points in 15.4 minutes per game, and is second only to Shabazz in points per minutes of action.
 
ABOUT THE NIGHTHAWKS
After eight games the Nighthawks sit atop the GNAC standings with a 2-0 conference mark and a 6-2 overall record.
 
After suffering an overtime loss to Regis University on Nov. 21, Northwest Nazarene went on to win its first two GNAC games over Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's by an average of 18.5 points.
 
Leading the NightHawks attack is Maurice Jones who leads the conference with 21.8 points per game, and nearly averages a double-double with 9.9 points.  Obi Megwa comes in second with 18.8 points per game, and 4.6 rebounds.