ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball won their fifth straight on Thursday night beating Seattle Pacific 69-62 in Nicholson Pavilion.
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"That was one of our better defensive efforts of the year. SPU is the best offensive team in the nation. Our ability to hold them to 41% from the floor and 19% from three with only four made threes was the difference."
Rinta added, "Samaad had a great game. His two threes and seven offensive rebounds were big. The three seniors Matt, Isaiah, and Brock have been playing at a high level through this win streak. Tonight was no different."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Seattle Pacific went on an 8-0 run to open an early 21-13 lead. The Wildcats responded with back-to-back threes from
Samaad Hector and
Isaiah Banks.
Matt Poquette soared above the rim slamming home the exclamation mark to CWU's 12-2 run, putting the 'Cats back in it tied at 30. Another layup from Poquette helped the Crimson and Black take a 36-34 advantage into the locker room.
Banks caught fire to start the second half nailing two threes from the elbow as the 'Cats used a 15-4 run to build a 51-38 advantage. The Falcons fought back, cutting the deficit to one, 54-55 with 8:39 remaining. With under two minutes to go Maui Sze converted a layup bringing the score to 62-65. Twenty seconds remained and Gilbert hit
Camron McNeil with a baseball pass which he corralled, icing the game with a layup.
The Wildcat's 24 points off turnovers and 9 fast break points in the first half, was a difference in the game.
Hector led all four double-digit scorers securing a double-double scoring 18 points and hauling in 12 boards. Banks put up 16, Poquette scored 13, and McNeil chipped in 12. The 'Cats shot 43.1% from the field, made 5 from downtown, and went 8-9 from the free-throw line.
Shaw Anderson led the Falcons scoring 17 points. Maui Sze and Kelton Samore contributed 10 points each. Seattle Pacific shot 41.3% from the floor, a season low 19% from beyond the arc with only four three-pointers, and converted 6-9 from the charity stripe.
UP NEXT
The hottest team in the GNAC will go toe to toe with Montana State Billings this Saturday at 6:15 p.m. in Nicholson Pavilion.
