Men's Basketball | 2/8/2017 2:08:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University men's basketball team hopes to get back to their winning ways following a five-game losing skid as they prepare to face Saint Martin's University and Seattle Pacific University on Feb. 9 and 11, respectively.
 
The Wildcats come into the week with a 12-8 record, and a 7-7 mark within the GNAC. Saint Martin's, who lost to CWU earlier this year, is 12-10 (6-8 GNAC), while SPU sits at 9-13 (5-9 GNAC).
 
The Saints split their games last week, picking up a win against Concordia (Ore.), 85-78, and losing to Western Oregon, 73-82. Highlighting SMU's 2017 season has been senior guard Tyler Copp, who has averaged 16.7 points per game while shooting over 45-percent from the floor.
 
Saint Martin's enters Thursday's matchup with the Wildcats averaging 81 points per contest, while holding opponents to just 72.3. Shooting 47.5-percent from the floor and 36.7-percent from beyond the arch, Central will have to bring it on both sides of the floor if they hope to recover from their losing streak.   
 
Tony Miller and Coleman Wooten lead Seattle Pacific's offensive attack. Miller is averaging 18 points per game, while Wooten adds 17.4. Miller also leads the Falcons on the glass, hauling 9.6 rebounds per game. As a team, SPU averages 79.2 points and 40.4 rebounds per game.
 
NILES PILES ON THE BOARDS
 
In the last six games, junior center Fuquan Niles has emerged as an elite rebounder in the GNAC. Niles has been a bright spot in Central's recent losing streak, hauling in double-figure rebounding totals in four of CWU's previous six games. On the season, Niles is averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, which ranks sixth in the GNAC.
 
NATIONAL STATUS UPDATE:
 
Dom hunter enters this week ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in scoring at 24.4 points per game. He has scored 20 or more points in all but four games this season, and scored 25 or more points on ten different occasions.
 
Fuquan Niles is rejecting 3.15 shots per game, ranking sixth nationally. He has recorded at least one block in all but two of the Wildcat's games this year and has swatted three or more shot attempts in 15 games.
 
As a team, the Wildcats rank 31st in scoring and 24th in three-pointers made per game at 10.0.
 
Tipoff for Thursday's game against the Saints is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Marcus Pavilion. Saturday's game against SPU will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Seattle, Wash. at the Brougham Pavilion.  
 
-CWU-