ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University men's basketball team hosts Northwest Nazarene University in a pair of home games.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, March 5
7:00 p.m.
Vs Northwest Nazarene
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | WATCH
Saturday, March 6
7:00 p.m.
Vs Northwest Nazarene
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | WATCH
QUOTABLE
"NNU is going to be a good test for us this weekend," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "They have been able to play more games than anyone on the West Coast and have been ranked in the top 25 all year. My guess is that they are approaching these games this weekend as if they need them to make the national tournament that they are in the hunt for.
It was good to see us find a better rhythm offensively last weekend with our pace and ball movement. Where we need to take the biggest step this weekend is on the defensive end of the floor. We have shown we have the ability to defend at a high level, we just need to find a way to do it consistently."
SCOUTING NORTHWEST NAZARENE
The Nighthawks come into the week ranked fourth in the region with a record of 10-3. They opened the season with a 75-72 win over DI Portland State, before taking down DI Concordia Irvine, 93-84.
Northwest Nazarene was handed its first loss on the season on January 5, when they fell to Point Loma but bounced back with eight connective victories. Their last two contest have resulted in losses, both coming to Seattle Pacific University.
On February 26, the Nighthawks fell 89-79 before an 83-68 defeat the next night. Ezekiel Alley led NNU in points on both nights, scoring 19 and 21 respectively.
Alley leads the Nighthawks' offense for the season, averaging 18.8 points a night. From the field, Alley is covering at a clip of 46.5 percent and 43.2 percent from beyond the arc. He has also recorded 41 assists, second on NNU.
George Reidy is the only other Nighthawk in double digit scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. He's shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and has converted 18 of his 54 attempts from deep. James Nelson leads NNU in rebounding, pulling down 5.5 boards per night. He has reeled in 122 total rebounds, 51 of the coming on offense. The Nighthawks are averaging 78.46 points as a team, while holding their opposition to 74.23.
LAST TIME OUT
The Central Washington University men's basketball team picked up their first win of the season, 64-62, over Saint Martin's University.
The Wildcats (1-3) shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half and outscored the Saints (2-9) 39-37 in the second half.
"It was good to see us put up some solid defensive stretches together tonight," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said afterward. "Xavier [Smith] and David [Thompson] found a good balance between scoring and distributing. Their ability to combine for 11 assists and only two turnovers was big. Marqus [Gilson] came up with some big buckets inside for us for the second straight night."
After the first 10 minutes of play the Saints and Wildcats found themselves deadlocked at 9-9. Neither team took a sizable advantage as the lead seesawed and momentum stalled. The lead changed hands 10 times in the first half. The largest lead of the opening stanza was five by Saint Martin's.
Central took a late three-point lead when David Thompson knocked down a jumper for a 22-20 advantage with 2:49 on the clock. At 1:06 remaining, Pollard knocked down a free throw for the 23-20 lead. A three on the Saints' next possession from Ty Velasquez negated the Wildcats' lead and a pair of free throws from Goy Wang made put Saint Martin's ahead 25-23. The final possession of the first half, Thompson picked up a layup and sent the Crimson and Black into halftime with a level score.
Lewis Pope opened the scoring in the second half with a three, putting the 'Cats ahead 28-25. Saint Martin's converted a pair of layups on consecutive possessions, but Thompson hit a jumper to retake a 30-29 lead. Just eight seconds later, a three from Velasquez gave Saint Martin's a 32-30 edge.
Saint Martin's extended their lead to six, 36-30, before a pair of free throws from Micah Pollard drew the contest to a four-point game. Tyke Thompson knocked down a trey shortly after, giving SMU a 39-32 lead. Xavier Smith responded with a trey of his own to pull within four. Back-to-back layups for Saint Martin's pushed their advantage to 43-35.
The Saints' lead began to evaporate with 11 minutes remaining. Marqus Gilson made consecutive layups, before Thompson added one of his own. Thompson then made the free throw for a three-point play and brought the Wildcats within one, 49-48. A layup from Smith made it 50-49 in favor of the Wildcats with 9:13 remaining in regulation.
A pair of buckets from Colby Gennett extended the Wildcats' lead to 54-49 with just seven and a half minutes on the clock. Saint Martin's managed to cut the 'Cats lead to one twice before they managed to retake the lead, 57-56, with three minutes left in regulation. Gilson quickly reclaimed the lead for CWU with a layup. Thompson followed suit with a layup of his own for a 60-57 lead. Gilson and Thompson combined for the next four Wildcat points, taking a 64-60 lead. Saint Martin's final bucket cut the deficit to two, but the Saints did not find the equalizer.
Thompson led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Gilson notched 16. Smith recorded 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
COVID DISCLAIMER
Per Washington state, Kittitas County Health Board, and the GNAC spectators will not be allowed at events. Schedules are subject to change at any time pending decisions from the health board and other local and regional authorities.
