ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 28) – The Central Washington University men's basketball team hosts Northwest Nazarene University, before heading to Montana State Billings.
GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, Jan. 29
vs Northwest Nazarene
7:00 p.m.
Ellensburg, WA | Nicholson Pavilion
LIVE STATS |
LIVE VIDEO
Thursday, Jan. 31
at Montana State Billings
7:00 p.m. MT | 6:00 p.m. PT
Billings, MT | Alterowitz Gymnasium
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
QUOTABLE
"Every team has to play four games in eight days at least once during conference and we are in the middle of that stretch," CWU Head Coach
Brandon Rinta said. "Quick turnarounds for us after the weekend playing NNU here tomorrow then at MSUB on Thursday. Both teams we play this week are playing well right now. As we enter into the second half of league everybody will be more familiar with each other's strengths and weakness. It will be important for us to use that to our advantage."
SCOUTING NORTHWEST NAZARENE
The Nighthawks enter the week with a 13-3 overall record, including a mark of 8-2 in GNAC play. Last week, NNU picked up a pair of wins and captured sole possession of second place with a win over Western Oregon.
Adonis Arms leads the Nighthawks' offense, averaging 21.4 points per game. Arms has recorded 10 or more points in every game this season. In the first meeting between CWU and NNU, Arms scored 26 points.
Joining Arms in double-digit scoring are Obi Megwa (17.9) and Jayden Bezzant (11.2). The Nighthawks average 84.31 points per game, while holding opponents to just 78.06.
Northwest Nazarene is out rebounding opponents 38.1 to 34.7, led by Olamilekan Adetunji with 5.7 rebounds per game.
The Nighthawks are a perfect 8-0 at home, but are only 3-3 on the road. Last season, the Wildcats hosted NNU in Wenatchee. Central came away with an 80-67 victory.
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
Montana State Billings has been flirting with a .500 record, culminating in a 10-8 record overall and a 5-5 mark in GNAC play.
The Yellowjackets split games against No. 23 Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific last week. They played to a tight 76-74 loss against the Saints, before upending the Falcons in a 92-63 affair. Brendan Howard tallied 20 points for the 'Jackets, while Tyler Green chipped in 19.
Green has been Billings leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. He's shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 46.6 percent from beyond the arc. Zach Rollins (15.3), Howard (14.3), Melvin Newbern Jr. (11.9), and Zharon Richmond (10.3) are also averaging 10 or more points per game. The 'Jackets are averaging 81.11 points per game and holding opponents to 78.33.
Newbern Jr. leads the rebounding department, hauling in 8.5 rebounds per game. The Jackets have only a two-tenths edge of their opponents at 35.8 to 35.6.
The Wildcats swept the season series last year against the Yellowjackets and continued the streak with a 111-102 overtime victory in Ellensburg this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Central dropped both games last week, including a nail-biter finish against Concordia (Ore.).
Gamaun Boykin led the Wildcats against Concordia with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Malik Montoya tallied 15 points and four steals.
Central shot a respectable 44 percent from the field for the half, but were outscored 22-12 in the paint and faced a 39-32 deficit at the halfway point.
The Cavaliers opened the second period on an 8-0 run before the Wildcats scored their first basket at the 16:15 mark. The teams traded hoops for the next several minutes as the visitors increased their lead to 17 with 14:27 left in the contest.
The Crimson and Black responded with a 11-1 run to get back into the game, bringing the score to 58-51 with 7:49 left in the game. The home team closed the game scoring 12 of the last 18 points behind seven points from Montoya and nailing six of eleven from the charity stripe as a team.
