Central Washington University Athletics

The Central Washington University men's basketball team has already clinched a berth in the 2017-18 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament, but can finish as high as fourth with a strong performance in its regular season finales against Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's.
 
CWU vs SPU | Thursday, Feb. 22 7:30 p.m. | Seattle, Wash. – Brougham Pavilion |
LIVE STATS | VIDEO (Live stats and
 
CWU vs SMU | Saturday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. | Lacey, Wash. – Marcus Pavilion |
LIVE STATS and VIDEO
   
 
 
FUQUAN THROWS BLOCK PARTY
Senior center Fuquan Niles put on a show last week swatting 18 shots en route to a GNAC Player of the Week selection.  Niles made history in the Wildcats 80-76 win over Concordia, tying a GNAC record with 10 rejections and collected the conference's and schools first ever triple double involving blocks.
 
In total, Niles has 144 career blocks, which is tied for the most in CWU history and ranks seventh all-time GNAC history.
 
WELCOME BACK LADD
Naim Ladd is a GNAC Preseason All-Conference selection, but an early injury sidelined the hot-shooting guard for 13 games.  Ladd has returned in the last six games and is primed for a big performance.  Ladd averaged 13.5 points per game a year ago where he scored 15 or more point 10 different times including five games over 20 points.
 
 
SCOUTING SEATTLE PACIFIC (15-10, 10-8 GNAC)
After starting the season 10-4, the Falcons have lost six of its their last 11 games.  A big reason for the drop off has been the absence of leading scorer Tony Miller who was averaging 18.0 points per game before injuring himself 12 games into the season.  Miller scored 23 points in the Falcons 84-83 win over CWU earlier in the season.
 
In Miller's vacancy, Gavin Long and Coleman Wooten have stepped up to lead the Falcon offense scoring 12.2 and 11.6 points, respectively.
 
Turnovers have been the biggest hiccup for the Falcons all season.  Seattle Pacific is dead last in the GNAC in turnover margin at -2.16.
The Falcons have a lot to play for as they have yet to clinch a GNAC Tournament Berth, but can secure it with a win Thursday or a loss by Northwest Nazarene.
 
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S (20-6, 13-5 GNAC)
Saint Martin's is having its best season to date and currently ranks eighth in the NCAA West Regional rankings.  With the top eight teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament, the Saints are in a good position to decide its own future with a pair of wins.
 
In the Saints' last 12 games they have only lost to #4 ranked Western Oregon, twice.
 
Luke Chavez continues to power the SMU attack pumping in 16.7 points per contest.  The 6-4 guard is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from three-point territory.
 
The Saints are one of the most consistent shooting teams in the conference, knocking shots down at a clip of 48.9-percent on the season.  Saint Martin's has only shot below 40-percent once this season and has shot over 50-percent in 15 games, going 14-1 in such contests.