ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The final week of the regular season for Central Washington University men's basketball consists of a pair of home games.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, February 24
Vs Montana State Billings
7:30 PM
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | LIVE ON SWX
 
Saturday, February 26
Vs Seattle Pacific
6:15 PM
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
QUOTABLE
"The final conference weekend of the year will always have a lot of weight to it with how clear the playoff implications are," CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. "We are hosting two of the better teams in the league this weekend in MSUB and SPU.  MSUB is a really big team that defends hard.  I would say they are the most improved team in the conference as the season has gone along.  SPU has one of the top teams in the region.  They are a veteran team with good size and skill."
 
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets are 12-13 overall and 8-7 in GNAC play. Last week, the 'Jackets dropped two of their GNAC contests to Simon Fraser and Seattle Pacific, they opened the week with a win at Western Washington, 91-64.
 
An early 22-0 run in the first half paced the 'Jackets in their best offensive outing of the season in their 91-64 win over WWU. Carrington Wiggins recorded 28 points and finished 11-for-12 from the field. Damen Thacker recorded 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Four of the 'Jackets five starters finished in double digit scoring.
 
The Vikings and Yellowjackets went to overtime in Billings. The 'Jackets erased an 18-point deficit but D'Angelo Minnis hit a buzzer-beater in overtime to send the Vikings home with a win. Carrington recorded 31 points in the loss. The Vikings trailed by five in overtime, but an 8-0 run in the 13 seconds captured the victory.
 
Simon Fraser then spoiled the 'Jackets Senior Night, 75-64. Thacker led the 'Jackets with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Wiggins added 17 points, three assists, and two steals, while Nicholas Sebastiao tallied 12 points.
 
Wiggins and Thacker lead the 'Jackets in scoring, averaging 17.9 and 15.0 points per game, respectively. The Yellowjackets are shooting 43.4 percent from the field. They average 67.08 points per game, while allowing 65.76.
 
SCOUTING SEATTLE PACIFIC
The Falcons are 14-10 on the year and 7-6 in GNAC play. They split a pair of home games against Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
 
Divant'e Moffit scored a season-high 32 points in the Falcons' 87-79 win over Simon Fraser. He scored 21 points prior to halftime. Shaw Anderson recorded 19 points and seven rebounds. Against Western Washington, a last second three from Lucas Holden lifted the Vikings over the Falcons 79-78.
 
Moffitt leads the Falcons in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game. He sits fourth in the GNAC in scoring. Moffitt is also averaging 3.8 assists per outing. This season, Moffitt has recorded a pair of 30-point nights – both coming at home in Brougham Pavilion.
 
Seattle Pacific averages 79.9 points per game, while allowing 70.5. They are shooting 44.6 percent from the floor. The Falcons are being out rebounded by opponents, 34.8-33.4.
 
LAST TIME OUT
GNAC leading scorer Xavier Smith tallied 15 points and six assists as the Wildcats fell to Saint Martin's University.
 
A cold open from the Saints allowed CWU to take an early lead, but a 19-6 run put SMU ahead 19-12. With just 5:27 left in regulation, Smith knocked down a jumper to tie the game at 58-58. A layup from Marcus Pollard gave CWU a 60-58 lead. Back-to-back buckets from the Saints flipped the lead in favor of SMU, 63-60.
 
Consecutive buckets from Smith and Poquette gave the Crimson and Black another slim lead, this time at 64-63. Saint Martin's knocked down a three before Nielsen-Skinner was sent to the line twice for four free throws. He knocked down all four, pushing SMU's lead to 70-64. A last-second jumper from Smith brought the Saints' lead to 70-66 as SMU held on for the victory.

SENIOR NIGHT
The Wildcats will honor seniors David Lindgren, CJ Hyder, Amari Stafford, David Thompson, Xavier Smith, and Marqus Gilson prior to tip-off on Saturday.
 
REGIONAL RANK
The Wildcats were ranked No. 4 in the first West Region in the NCAA Division II West Region Poll, released last week. This week, the Wildcats fell to No. 6.
 
COVID FAN POLICY
Masks are required for all individuals while inside Nicholson Pavilion.