ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team hosts Saint Martin's University and Northwest Nazarene University in a pair of GNAC matchups.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, February 1
Vs Saint Martin's University
7:00 PM
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | WATCH
 
Thursday, February 3
Vs Northwest Nazarene University
6:00 PM
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | WATCH

QUOTABLE
"We are looking forward to this two week home stretch. Saint Martin's has positioned themselves at the top of the conference early," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "They have a deep and talented team that has been playing well. Northwest Nazarene is a tough team that has been playing better and better as the season has gone along. They play hard and are good defensively."
 
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S
The Saints are 13-4 overall and 6-2 in GNAC play. The picked up a pair of wins over Western Oregon last week, taking a home victory on Thursday before recording a road win Saturday.
 
Saint Martin's compiled a 29-0 in the second half of Saturday's contest in route to an 89-67 win over the Wolves. Alex Schumacher recorded a double-double, tallying 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brett Reed (19 points, 10 rebounds) also recorded a double-double for the Saints. Schumacher, Reed, Kyle Greeley (17 points, seven rebounds) and Champ Spencer (15 points) combined for 78 of SMU's 89 points. The Saints shot nearly 56 percent from the field.
 
Reed leads the Saints' scoring efforts on the season, averaging 14.7 points per game. He is shooting 59.1 percent from the floor and has yet to attempt a three-pointer. He also leads SMU in rebounding, hauling in 8.5 boards per game. Reed has struggled at the free throw line, converting just 38.3 percent of his chances. Schumacher (13.4), Greeley (11.9), and Christian Haffner (10.3) are all averaging 10 or more points per game.
 
The Saints are averaging 80.88 points per game, while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor. They are shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent at the free throw line. Opponents are scoring just 66.53 points per game, while shooting 41.8 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from deep. The Saints have a +5 margin in rebounding, 36.3-31.0.
 
SCOUTING NORTHWEST NAZARENE
The Nighthawks lost their last contest on Thursday (Jan. 27) to Western Washington University, 83-81, and fell to 5-6 overall. In GNAC play, NNU is 3-3.
 
James Nelson set a career-high with 25 points against the Vikings. Tru Allen added 13 points, three assists, and three steals. Jaylen Fox rounded out the double-digit scorers for NNU with 11 points. The Nighthawks shot 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from beyond the arc, a better percentage than their overall shooting percentage of 43.9 percent (25-for-57). They scored 33 points off turnovers, forcing the Vikings into 19 turnovers.
 
Despite playing in only nine games on the season, George Reidy leads NNU in scoring. He is averaging 13.1 points per game. Nelson, who has only appeared in three games, is averaging 22.3 points. Amongst players who have appeared in 10 or more games, Gabriel Murphy leads the scoring effort. He is recording 11 points per game, while hauling in 9.7 rebounds. Murphy is shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent at the free throw line.  Allen (10.8) and Christian Rose (10.3) are also scoring 10+ points per game. Allen has struggled shooting, however, converting at a clip of only 32.1 percent. One-third of his baskets (12 of 35) have come from three-point range.
 
The Nighthawks are hold a +2 margin in scoring, averaging 75.45 points while holding the opposition to 73.45. NNU is combined for a shooting percentage of 41.5 percent. They are knocking down 72.8 percent of their chances at the free throw line.
 
THE WILDCATS
Central recorded a pair of wins last week over Simon Fraser. The first came at home, 84-61, before the 'Cats swept the season series in Burnaby, 92-65. CWU fell in their final game of the week at Western Washington University, 90-88, on a buzzer beater.
 
The Wildcats improved to 11-0 against Simon Fraser University, since they joined the GNAC in the 2010-11 academic year, in Nicholson Pavilion. Xavier Smith scored 20 points against SFU, shooting 9-for-11 from the field. He closed his week by scoring a career-high 32 points against Western Washington, including a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Marqus Gilson (17), David Thompson (16), and Matt Poquette (10) each scored in double-digits last Tuesday.
 
In Burnaby, the Wildcats posted a 27-point victory. It was the largest margin of victory over Simon Fraser since February 14, 2015. It was the third-largest margin of victory Central has recorded against SFU since 2011. David Thompson led the Wildcats with 22 points, while Poquette added 15. Smith (13), Micah Pollard (12), and Gilson (11) also recorded 10 or more points.
 
Against the Vikings, it came down to the final buzzer. Jalen Green sealed the Vikings' victory with 1.3 seconds left on the clock. Smith led the Wildcats' offense with 32 points. He finished 11-for-17 from the field, 2-for-4 from deep, and was 8-for-8 at the line. Smith added five rebounds and four assists, both CWU highs. Poquette (14), Gilson (13), and Thompson (10) rounded out the Crimson and Black's top scorers.
 
COVID POLICY
All spectators must be masked inside Nicholson Pavilion.