LACEY, Wash. -- The Central Washington University men's basketball team overcame a 21-point first-half deficit to take a late lead, but could not hold on, falling to Saint Martin's University 79-80 Thursday night in Lacey, Wash.
 
The Wildcat's had an adventurous trip to Saint Martin's, travelling over eight hours due to Snoqualmie Pass closures, delaying the 7:30 p.m. start time nearly two hours as the two teams eventually tipped off around 9:15 p.m.
 
The Wildcats (12-10, 7-9 GNAC) held the sixth spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings coming into the game, now sit in seventh-place with Saint Martin' (14-10, 8-8 GNAC) taking possession of sixth.
 
The loss is the sixth-straight for CWU, its first six-game losing streak since December of 2003.
 
Central Washington took its first lead in the contest with 4:51 to go off a pair of free throws from Fuquan Niles.  Jawan Stepney followed with a three pointer to extend the Wildcats lead to five with 3:43 remaining, but the Saints fought back to regain the advantage at 78-77 with 36 seconds to play.
 
CWU guard Dom Hunter took a three with 18 seconds to play that rimmed off the back iron and Niles corralled the offensive rebound and got fouled with 14 seconds to play.  Niles drained both attempts from the line giving CWU a one-point lead.
 
After a SMU timeout, Preston Cole drove the lane for the Saints and was fouled earning two free throw shots, hitting both and helping the SMU take back the lead.  The Wildcat had one opportunity to win the game with four seconds left, but Stepney's contested attempt fell short, allowing the Saints to escape with the victory.
 
Central fell behind early in the first half, trailing by 21 points with 8:47 to go in the period.  The Wildcats ended the first half on a 23 to 7 run headlined by a trio of triples by Sage Woodruff.  The Saints started the game making 12 of their first 16 shot attempts, but cooled down significantly to end the half, finishing the stanza shooting 38.2 percent from the field.
 
The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half, but were out worked on the boards where SMU held a 21 to 16 advantage, including 9 to 2 on the offensive end.
 
Stepney and Hunter both ended the game with 17 points for the Wildcats with Stepney connecting on 7 of 12 from the field.  Niles recorded another double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.  Woodruff also added 14 points for the Wildcats.
 
Central outshot SMU 50.0 percent to 43.8 percent, but the Saints were able to put up 10 more shots than the Wildcats, due in large part to 14 offensive rebounds and 14 turnovers by the Wildcats.
 
Saint Martin's got 20 points from Rhett Baerlocher who knocked down six treys on the night.  The Saints made 14 shots from downtown in the game, finishing 14 of 31.  The Wildcats also had its best night from three-point territory in their past two games, going 12 for 22.
 
Central Washington will look get back on the winning side when they travel to Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m.