ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team hits the road for its final away contest of the season at Saint Martin's University.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, February 19
At Saint Martin's
5:15 p.m.
Marcus Pavilion
Lacey, WA
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
 
QUOTABLE
"Saint Martin's is playing really well right now," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "They are as big and skilled as anyone in the league.  We are going to have to defend and rebound at a high level to have success against them on the road."
 
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S
The Saints notched the No. 10 spot in the first West Region poll. They have won their last two games against Western Washington University and Northwest Nazarene University. The back-to-back wins snapped a three-game losing streak, dating back to Feb. 3 against Montana State Billings. Prior to the three-game skid, the Saints' last win came in a 94-83 win over CWU.
 
Against the Vikings, the Saints went 13-for-25 from deep. Five separate players tallied multiple 3-pointers. Alex Schumacher picked up 17 points, 12 coming from beyond the arc. Kyle Greeley led the Saints with 24 points.
 
After staking out a 22-point lead against Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin's found themselves tied at 75-75 as time waned in regulation. Greeley knocked down the game-winning bucket with just 0.9 seconds on the clock. Schumacher led the Saints' offense with 22 points, while Greeley picked up 21.
 
Schumacher, Brett Reed, and Greeley lead the Saints' scoring to a tune of 14.2, 14.0, and 13.7 points per game, respectively. Both Reed (53.8) and Greeley (58.0) are shooting over 50 percent from the field, while Schumacher sits at 46.5. As a unit, the Saints are shooting 49.4 percent, including a 42.2 percent mark from deep. They have knocked down just 64.8 percent of their chances at the free throw line. Saint Martin's is averaging 79.57 points per game, while allowing just 68.35. The Saints are holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 42.1, while winning the rebounding battle 35-31 on average.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats have won their last two outings, sweeping the Alaska schools in Nicholson Pavilion in a pair of tight contests.
 
Xavier Smith earned GNAC Player of the week after he averaged 20.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game to lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 week. Smith opened with a 19-point, six-rebound performance in Tuesday's 97-86 loss to Western Washington. He bounded back to finish with 17 points, five rebounds and two steals in Thursday's 76-73 win over Alaska. Smith saved his best for last, finishing with 26 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 81-80 overtime victory over Alaska Anchorage. In the game, Smith made the three-pointer that forced overtime and then hit the Wildcats' final two baskets in overtime to seal the win.
 
Against the Nanooks, a 9-for-10 effort at the free throw line, combined with a 55.56 shooting percentage, in the second half secured Central Washington University's 76-73 comeback win over the University of Alaska.
 
The Wildcats held the lead for the final 97 seconds. Trailing by seven with 5:13 remaining Central outscored Alaska (7-11, 4-8 GNAC) 15-5 to capture the lead and the victory. A driving layup from Colby Gennett opened the run for the 'Cats. Smith followed suit, pulling in an offensive board on Central's next possession before tallying a bucket himself.
 
Central trailed by nine, 56-47, with 9:50 left in regulation against Anchorage. The Wildcats chipped away, pulling the deficit to three, 60-57, with 6:21 on the clock. After a three from Anchorage's David Rowlands, back-to-back baskets Smith and David Thompson made it a 63-61 contest in favor of Anchorage. The Crimson and Black finally levelled the score at 65-65 with a pullup jumper from Smith.
 
The Seawolves took a 70-67 with 23 seconds left, but Smith answered the call for Central again. He knocked down the game tying basket with just 14 seconds left. Anchorage held the final possession in regulation.
 
Coming out of their final timeout in overtime, the Wildcats found Smith with 13 seconds left for a jumper and a 79-78 lead. Anchorage reclaimed a one-point lead, 80-79 with a pair of free throws from Rowlands and just nine seconds left in the period.
 
With their final possession, the Wildcats looked to Smith again. The senior delivered, knocking down the game-winning basket.
 
After last week's victories, Central is 8-5 in GNAC play with just three conference games remaining on the schedule.
 
WEST REGION POLL
The Wildcats earned the No. 4 spot in the first West Region Poll, released by the NCAA this week.