ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 28) – The Central Washington University men's basketball team (11-16, 5-14) were defeated 74-62 by Seattle Pacific University (18-6, 15-4) Thursday evening in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
Jeryn Lucas led the Wildcats with 19 points and five rebounds. Jackson Price added 18 off the bench on 7-for-9 shooting, including three from beyond the arc. Central shot 43 percent from the field for the game, slightly better than the visitors. However, the Wildcats gave up 13 second-chance points to the Falcons on 17 offensive rebounds.
 
"Offensive rebounds hurt us, they had way too many tonight," Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "We missed some chippies. We had them on the ropes there for 30 minutes."
 
The visitors jumped on the Crimson and Black early, taking an 11-6 advantage after converting an and-one opportunity. The Wildcats would rally and score seven of the next nine to tie the contest at 13 a few minutes later.
 
After leveling the score, Central struggled to put shots down as the Falcons ran off ten of the next 14 to bring their lead to 23-17 with 7:18 remaining in the first half. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period, neither stringing together more than four-straight points.
 
Price put in eight points to close the period, including two from beyond the arc. Lucas added seven points of his own and the Wildcats headed into the locker room facing a 40-35 deficit.
 
The teams continued to trade baskets to open the second half with the Wildcats able to cut the visitor's lead to just three in the opening minutes. The Crimson and Black continued to put the pressure on the Falcons, nailing back-to-back three-point jumpers to bring their deficit to one at 49-48 with 12:07 left in regulation.
 
The visitors followed with a 12-4 run to create some separation. The Falcons sunk 4-of-5 shots, including two from beyond the arc while the Crimson and Black hit just one of seven shots during the stretch.
 
"Shots weren't falling, but it was more defensively we let off the gas there the last ten minutes and that was the difference," Rinta said.
 
After a basket from Malcolm Cola and a free throw from Gamaun Boykin stopped the run, the visitors ran off eight straight points to expand their lead to 74-55. The Wildcats closed the game with a seven straight of their own on 3-for-6 shooting.
 
The Wildcats close out the season Saturday, March 2 against Saint Martin's University at home. Senior night celebrations will precede tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
"We're going to be honoring four seniors here and hopefully send them out on a good note," Rinta said. "They're [SMU] going to be coming in here playing for a conference championship, so we're going to be getting their best shot."