LACEY, Wash. (Nov. 29) – The Central Washington University men's basketball team (4-3, 0-1 GNAC) fell to Saint Martin's University (6-1, 1-0 GNAC), 77-69.
 
"We didn't give ourselves much of a chance to beat a good like Saint Martin's by having 21 turnovers," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said afterward.  "They scored 32 points off those turnovers and that was the difference in the game."
 
The Wildcats and Saints played a taut opening 10 minutes, before the Saints were able to extend their advantage to 21-15 with 8:54 left in the opening stanza.  A three from Jackson Price pulled the Crimson and Black back within three, 21-18.  Saint Martin's netted the next three baskets, extending their lead to 27-19.
 
A jumper and pair of free throws from Gamaun Boykin brought the Wildcats back within six, 29-23, with 3:54 left in the first half.  The Saints went up by 12, with a three from Luke Chavez, before Marcus Austin notched his first bucket of the game.  Nygil Carr followed Austin's jumper with a pair of free throws, dropping Saint Martin's lead to 35-27 heading into the locker room for halftime.
 
"Marcus [Austin] gave us a spark tonight," Rinta noted.  "He stepped up and found a good rhythm."
 
Austin finished with a team-high 14 points.  He was 6-for-8 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.  Austin picked up a pair of assists and one steal as well.
 
After a three from Saint Martin's EJ Boyce to open the scoring in the second half, Boykin and Jeryn Lucas knocked down consecutive jumpers to cut the Saints' lead to 38-31.
 
A 7-0 run for the Saints extended their lead to 45-31, but a trey from Austin ended the run and brought the score to 45-34 with 13:32 to play in regulation.  Saint Martin's lead hovered in double digits, until a layup from Matt Poquette with 2:35 to play brought Central within nine, 68-59.
 
Despite pulling within single digits, the Wildcats were unable to overcome Saint Martin's. 
 
The Wildcats and Saints were nearly evenly split in turnovers, combining for 41.  The Saints, however, were able to capitalize for 32 points off of turnovers.  Central scored 28 points in the paint and held Saint Martin's to just 26.  The Crimson and Black's reserves scored 26 points, 20 coming from Austin.
 
Austin was one of four Central players to finish with a double-digit scoring effort.  Boykin (11), Lucas (11), and Malik Montoya (11) also eclipsed 10 points.  Boykin also finished with a team-high four assists.
 
The Wildcats are on the road again on Saturday (Dec. 1) as they travel to Seattle Pacific for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.