ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University men's basketball closed out its four-game homestand with its fourth-straight win in a 67-56 victory over Montana State Billings. Jeryn Lucas scored 27 points off the bench to lead the Wildcats to victory.
 
Helping CWU (14-8, 7-7 GNAC) pick up its fourth home win in a row was ball security and defense. The Wildcats forced 14 turnovers and surrendered just nine to the Yellowjackets (9-11, 4-8 GNAC). CWU scored 19 points off those turnovers. Bench production was also key as CWU's reserves scored 41 to MSU Billings scoring just nine.
 
"That's a tough stretch [of opponents to play] but thankfully we were at home for all four, but four games in eight days is tough," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "You could see it I think on Tuesday put of both teams and then tonight out of the gates, we just didn't quite have that energy. But that group that was in the at the end of the first half in the last six minutes I thought was really to get our energy to a place where we could defend and play like we wanted too. Credit to our guys for pulling out a win like that tonight."
 
The Wildcats got off to a slow start in the first half going without a made shot in first three minutes of action. MSU Billings led 8-0 before a Lucas jumper ended the drought and finally got the Wildcats on the board.
 
Lucas was the spark for the Wildcats off the bench as he scored the team's first five points. By the first media timeout, CWU found itself down 12-5 with 14:40 to play in the half. The Yellowjackets got off to a fast start shooting 6-10, while CWU was just 2-9.
 
Lucas' play early sparked the Wildcats. He scored eight of the team's first 10 points to get the Wildcat within two, 12-10, with just over 12 minutes to play in the half. The Wildcats then managed to make some stops as the half went on to grab their first lead.
 
The Yellowjackets managed to hold their lead by two possessions for much of the first half but the Wildcats slowly chipped away at the lead. A deep triple from Lucas gave CWU its first lead of the game at 7:10 mark, 19-18.
 
The score remained at 19-18 in favor of CWU for the next three minutes as neither squad managed to get a shot to fall. MSU Billings retook the lead at the 4:23 mark on a driving layup to make it a 20-19 game. The pace of the game picked up in the final minutes as the Wildcats outscored the Yellowjackets 13-5 in that final 4:23 to take a 32-25 lead at halftime.
 
Lucas was the answer for the Wildcats in the first half as he poured in 16 points off the bench. Keeping the Yellowjackets in the game thought was a blistering 20-4 edge in points in the paint. CWU had the advantage from deep going 6-11, while MSU Billings failed to make a triple on 13 attempts.
 
The two team's wasted little time trading shots to start the second half. Despite the quick start, both teams still struggled to make shots. CWU was just 3-8 from the floor in the first 4:33 of play while MSU Billings was just 2-8. CWU was still in front 39-31 in that span.
 
MSU Billings managed to cut its deficit to six, 39-33, and threatened to potentially tie, but CWU responded and outscored them 11-5 to go up 50-38 with 7:40 to play in the game. The 12-point lead for the Wildcats was their largest of the game at the point.
 
As the game went on, MSU Billings looked to stay close against the Wildcats and had some chances. They got within nine after the Wildcats got up 50-38, but from then on, the home team had a response to every shot the visitors made.
 
The Crimson and Black led by as much as 16 in the final seven minutes of play and never allowed MSU Billings mount a comeback the rest of the night. The Wildcats resilience ultimately secure the 11-point win and push their win streak to four.
 
Lucas scored his 27 points on a scorching 10-12 shooting and was 7-8 from three-point range. Davon Bolton and Gamaun Boykin each scored 10 points to round out the double figure scoring for CWU. Xavier Smith chipped in eight points and led the way in rebounds with eight.
 
Central will hit the road next week for a pair of games, both of which will be in Alaska. The Wildcats get the trip started at Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, Feb. 13. Tip-off against the Nanooks will be at 8 p.m. PT.