ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Four Central Washington University men's basketball players finished in double digits as the Wildcats (12-6, 6-5 GNAC) fell to Western Washington University (12-8, 5-5 GNAC), 97-86.
Xavier Smith (19),
David Thompson (17),
Matt Poquette (15), and
Amari Stafford (13) led the Wildcats' scoring. The quartet combined for 74.4 percent of Central's scoring. They shot 52 percent from the floor, 53.8 percent from deep, and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. Central finished at 50 percent from the floor.
The Vikings got the better of the 'Cats in the rebounding battle, claiming a 46-23 advantage by game's end. On the offensive glass, Western posted a +10 margin, 14-4. They recorded 16 second chance points. The Wildcats recorded more steals, however, pick-pocketing the Viks' nine times. They finished with 13 points off turnovers.
Western stormed out to a 10-point lead the first seven minutes, 21-11. The early minutes for the Crimson and Black saw a shooting percentage of just 35.7. Western held Central scoreless for 3:48 midway through the first, a three from Smith was the only scoring from the 'Cats until
Marqus Gilson tallied a bucket at 11:08.
"The first half we came out a little flat defensively and allowed them to get on a roll early," CWU Head Coach
Brandon Rinta said. "When a talented offensive team like that gets on a roll, they're hard to start. I was more concerned with our effort on the glass, rebounding wise. We can't allow that to happen and that hurt us as much as anything."
Central's bench became a player shorter following Gilson's bucket, as the forward left with an injury. In just nine minutes of play, Gilson finished with seven points and a block.
An 11-point margin became a 17-point margin with 8:11 remaining, in favor of Western Washington. Central used the next six minutes to chip six points off the deficit with a 14-8 run. Thompson scored six of the 'Cats 14 points during the run.
Kyson Rose knocked down a trey, while Gilson,
Isaiah Banks, and Smith also contributed points to the run.
Smith had the final word in the opening stanza, draining a three on the Crimson and Black's final possession.
At the half, Western led 44-37. Central finished the period with a shooting percentage of 44.1 percent after finding an offensive rhythm midway through the first.
"We needed to get more stops and get out in transition, that's where we were having success," Rinta added. "Unfortunately we weren't able to get enough stops to get out to transition. We had our moments, but not enough defensively. Not enough offensively."
A quick 7-2 run for the Wildcats opened the second half. The run took just 1:20 and cut the 'Cats deficit to two, 46-44. Western responded with a 14-7 run, pushing their lead to nine. Another cold snap, this time for both teams, left the scoring hovering at 62-55 for over two minutes as neither team managed to find points. Jalen Green snapped the Vikings' scoreless run with a trey. Poquette got the Wildcats' offense restarted with a layup on the 'Cats ensuing possession. Green's trey marked the first of five consecutive scoring possessions for Western. During that period, Western outscored Central 14-7.
Green finished with 21 points for the Vikings. D'Angelo Minnis led Western's offense with 26 points.
"Minnis had a great game, we had trouble stopping him all night long," Rinta noted.
Central 55.9 percent of their chances in the second half, including going 4-for-8 from deep.
There are still a pair of games left to play at Nicholson Pavilion this week for the Crimson and Black. Thursday they take on Alaska Fairbanks at 7:30 p.m.
