ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University men's basketball team hosts first-year program Lincoln University in an exhibition match.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, October 29
V Lincoln (CA)
7:00 PM
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
QUOTABLE
"We are excited to kick off the basketball season this Friday," Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "This team has been through a lot over the last 18 months and they are looking forward to getting back to playing in front of fans. Lincoln is as unknown a team as it gets. It appears as though they have put together a very good team and it should be a good early test for us. At this point in the season we are more concerned with what we are doing, so not having a scouting report isn't as important."
SCOUTING LINCOLN UNIVERSITY (CA)
The Oaklanders are in their first year of athletic competition. The university announced the addition of athletics in December 2020 for the first time in is history. Lincoln University has been open since 1919.
On Wednesday evening, the Oaklanders played Western Washington University in an exhibition matchup. The Vikings claimed an 83-72 victory over Lincoln. The Oaklanders were 29-67 from the floor, but finished just 4-20 from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, Lincoln finished 16-20. The Oaklanders won the rebounding battle, however, edging Vikings 42-41.
Individually, Lewis Hays led Lincoln with 22 points. He went 9-12 at the line and 407 from the free throw line. He also led Lincoln in rebounds, totaling eight boards. Kaden Bradley and Isaiah Attles also eclipsed double digit points, scoring 21 points and 15 points respectively.
The Oaklanders scored 40 points inside the paint, 13 on fast breaks, 14 off of turnovers, and 12 second chance points. Lincoln's bench chipped in for 19 points.
Lincoln University is coached by former Seattle SuperSonic, and Oakland native, Gary Payton. Payton spent 17 years in the NBA with five teams. He spent 13 years with Seattle, before moving on to the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Milwuakee Bucks. He won the NBA Championship in 2006 with Miami. Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star during his career. He averaged 16.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists alongside a shooting percentage of 46.6.
THE WILDCATS
Central is coming off the pandemic shortened season in which they finished 2-4. They recorded a 64-62 win over Saint Martin's University and a 94-84 victory over Northwest Nazarene.
The Crimson and Black return a strong core, including Xavier Smith, Marqus Gilson, and Matt Poquette. Smith averaged 12.5 points per game, while Gilson and Poquette averaged 12.3 and 10.5 points, respectively. In the Wildcats' last full season (2019-20), Smith averaged 9.1 points per game and shot 40.8 percent from the floor. He started all but one of the 28 appearances he made on the season. Poquette averaged 7.3 points per game and shot 53.4 percent from the floor. He started 12 of the 28 games he appeared in. Gilson also appeared in 28 games, starting 16. He averaged 7.3 points and five rebounds per game.
David Thompson is set for his first full season for the Wildcats. He transferred to Central Washington from Santa Clara last year. Thompson appeared in four games for the 'Cats, starting three. He led the Crimson and Black in scoring, averaged 16.5 points and dished out 13 assists. Thompson finished with a shooting percentage of 42.6 percent from the field and went 10-14 at the free throw line.
Central is bolstered by newcomers including Isaiah Banks, Shaden Knight, Mitch Brizee, and Selah product Noah Pepper.
Two years ago, the 'Cats finished 17-11 and 10-10 in GNAC play. In the second half of GNAC play, CWU was 7-3, including a five-game winning streak.
COVID PROTOCOL
Masks are required inside Nicholson Pavilion, regardless of vaccination status.
