ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team hosts Bushnell University in a non-conference matchup on Monday, December 20.
 
QUOTABLE
"We have been tested every night in our non-conference schedule and I expect that trend to continue on Monday in our last non-conference game versus Bushnell," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "They are well coached and a skilled team that can put a lot of points on the board."
 
SCOUTING BUSHNELL
The Beacons enter the week with a record of 3-7 and a 1-2 mark in Cascade play. They have a pair of CCC road games on Friday (Dec. 17) against Southern Oregon University and Saturday (Dec. 18) against Oregon Tech, before playing the 'Cats on Monday.
 
Bushnell averages 76.6 points per game and is led in scoring by Stevie Schlabach, who averages 16.9 points per game. Schlabach is shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, Schlaback has knocked down 81.6 percent of his chances.
 
Behind Schlabach in scoring is Kaden Sand. The 6-foot-5 junior averages 12 points per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor. Sand has appeared in just seven of the Beacons' 10 games. Drayton Caoile (11.5) rounds out the double-digit scorers for Bushnell. As a unit, the Beacons are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 34 percent from beyond the arc, and 76.4 percent from the free throw line.
 
Defensively, the Beacons are allowing 78.8 points per game with opponents knocking down shots at a clip of 42.9 percent from the floor. Bushnell's opposition have struggled from long-range, converting just 31 percent of the time. Nico Wolff leads his squad's rebounding effort, grabbing 6.7 boards per game. He has hauled in 18 offensive rebounds in 10 games. Sand has recorded a team-high 12 steals, while Wolff leads in blocks with 11. The Beacons are just about even in rebounding, as they are separated from their opponents by just one-tenth 37-36.9 in favor of their opposition.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Central held off Walla Walla University in their last outing, 90-80.
 
Matt Poquette led the Wildcats 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 Smithfinished 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.


GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans who donate canned food items will receive free general admission entry. General admission tickets for those without a canned food item have been reduced from $10 for adults and $5 for kids grades K-12 to $1.

A family of four (two adults, two kids grades K-12) will be able to attend Monday's game against Bushnell, and enjoy two concession items each, for as little as $8 with canned food goods.

Donated canned food items will be delivered to the Kittitas County FISH Food Bank. For the past 50 years, Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) has been the resource for food and help to anyone in Kittitas County who is hungry and in need of a friend.  Since 1971, FISH has been a collaboration of available resources to assure no one in Kittitas County goes to bed hungry and anyone has the opportunity to improve their quality of life.