ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball shot lights out and sunk 11 threes on their way to the 82-69 victory over Cal State LA on Friday night.
Samaad Hector led the 'Cats with 19 points and eight rebounds.
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"That was a great team win against a really good Cal State LA team. We had numerous guys step up at different times throughout the game. Samaad did a great job rebounding, Seth did a great job creating, and Cam and Cavin hit some big shots."
NOTABLE STATS
- Hector dropped 19 points, Camron McNeil scored 18 points, and Cavin Holden also put up 18 points hitting four threes. Seth Dawson had 10 points to go with a team high of five assists.
- The 'Cats shot 11-27 from deep and 47% from the field.
- Central Washington made 23-25 from the charity stripe.
- The Wildcats shared the ball well, tallying 17 assists and crashed the boards, winning the rebound battle 40-33.
FIRST HALF
- Central Washington's Camron McNeil got the 'Cats off to a hot start with an opening three and two more baskets which gave the Crimson and Black an early 10-5 lead. Anjaylo Jello Lloyd buried a three right before the 2nd media timeout to give Central Washington the 17-13 advantage.
- Cal State LA came out of the media timeout and went on an eight-point run capped off by a jumper from Eche Okeke. The Golden Eagles kept up the offensive pressure and took a 28-22 lead with 5:14 left.
- The Crimson and Black ended the half on a 16-6 run that included a three-point dart from Bradley Swillie to put the 'Cats up 38-34 at the break.
- The Wildcats sunk five threes, put up 24 bench points, and had five players score seven points or more in the half led by Anjaylo Jello Lloyd with eight.
SECOND HALF
- Hector opened the half with a strong play inside and made the basket through contact. He stepped up and converted at the line for the old-fashioned three-point play. Jaden Lazo responded for Cal State LA with a baseline three to tie it up at 47.
- Cal State LA went on a hot shooting stretch to take a 52-48 lead into the second media timeout.
- Central Washington hit three consecutive threes: Cavin Holden drained one from the top of the key, then McNeil converted, and finally Samaad nailed one to take a 60-54 lead and force a timeout from Cal State LA.
- Shane Bell did his best to keep the Golden Eagles in the game and put up 28 points and nine rebounds.
- The Wildcats went on a 16-2 run over the span of three minutes and forty seconds on their way to the 82-69 home victory.
UP NEXT
- Central Washington wraps up the CWU Tournament tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Westminster UT.
