ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University men's basketball team held off Walla Walla University, 90-80, in a non-conference matchup
Matt Poquette led the Wildcats (6-2) with 25 points. He shot 10-for-17 from the field and 5-for-7 at the free throw line. He tallied two rebounds, two steals, and one assist as well. Xavier Smith finished with 18 points, while Shaden Knight recorded 11. Smith led the 'Cats with three assists. Marqus Gilson led the rebounding effort, recording a team-high eight boards. Three of his eight rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Central was sent to the line for 31 free throws, 22 coming in the second half. The Wildcats converted 22 of their chances. They also scored 44 points in the paint and 21 fast break points. Central made the most of Walla Walla's errors, scoring 29 points off turnovers. The 'Cats bench scored 28 points. Every player who saw action for the Crimson and Black scored at least one point and all but one Wildcat recorded at least one rebound. The 'Cats recorded 12 steals and three blocks.
The Wolves, meanwhile were paced by KiAndre Gaddy's 29 points. The center finished 13-for-16 from the field, while recording 13 rebounds. He also recorded eight blocks, accounting for all of the Wolves' blocks.
"We weren't quite able to get into a rhythm in the first half," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "There were moments where it looked like we were going to be able to, but just couldn't quite hold on to any flow. Walla Walla played a great game. Gaddy is a load down inside, he had a great game. We had to make some adjustments to try and neutralize him. When he wasn't scoring on the block he was grabbing offensive rebounds, he was extremely tough on the glass. I think Matt came up big for us tonight down inside, he and X[avier] carried us offensively."
The contest began inauspiciously for the Wolves. They were assessed a technical foul prior to tip-off, sending Smith to the free throw line before the jump. Smith converted and the Wildcats began play with a 1-0 lead.
Central opened a 10-point lead with seven minutes left in the first. They expanded it to 15 two minutes later before the Wolves mounted a 10-0 run. With two minutes left in the first, a pair of free throws from Smith made it 37-30, but Gaddy and Ethan Ford scored the last two buckets of the half to send the teams into the locker room with Central leading 37-34.
The Wildcats lead hovered around five for the first seven minutes of the second stanza.
Walla Walla cut the deficit to just one with twelve minutes left in regulation. A three from Amari Stafford gave the Wildcats a two-possession lead but the Wolves and Wildcats traded buckets as Central tried to expand upon a fragile lead.
A pair of free throws with just over five minutes left from Poquette started a 7-0 run, with a three from David Thompson and a jumper from Smith, which re-established a double digit lead 77-67.
The Wolves managed to pull within six in the final minute, but five free throws from Knight and Gilson salted away the game.
Central hosts Bushnell University on Monday, December 20, at 7:00 p.m. before returning to conference play in the final week of December.
