NAMPA, Idaho. – Central Washington raced past Azusa Pacific on Saturday afternoon and picked up the 81-47 victory in their final game at the NNU Thanksgiving Classic. The 'Cats were down early but rallied and never looked back, taking a 30-point lead late in the second half. Samaad Hector led the 'Cats, scoring 18 points and hauling in six rebounds.

QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"This was a great response from the team after yesterday. Azusa Pacific is a good team and is picked to win their conference. Our goal is to find that energy and ball movement in every game. Samaad got us going in the first half. He is a tough match up inside and out and we capitalized on that today."

Rinta added, "Maverick, Jordan, and Cavin did a great job finding their teammates ending up with four assists each."

NOTABLE STATS

• Anjaylo Lloyd put up 14 points with two threes. Mitch Brizee, Maverick Sanders, and Bradley Swillie each scored eight points.
• Central Washington shot 60% from the field, made nine from beyond the arc, and made six free throws.
• The Wildcats turned 11 Cougar turnovers into 19 points. Central's bench produced yet again, accounting for 40 points.

FIRST HALF

• Azusa Pacific took an early 13-4 lead. The 'Cats responded with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to one.
• Camron McNeil found Cavin Holden for a triple that gave the 'Cats the 19-18 lead with just under ten minutes remaining.
• Bradley Swillie hit a jumper and Central Washington took a ten-point 35-25 lead late in the half.
• The 'Cats caught fire and closed out the half on a 17-8 run. Samaad Hector hit two threes in that span. The second one sent the crimson and black into the half with a 41-28 lead. Hector finished the half with 14 points.

SECOND HALF

• CWU picked up where they left off offensively. Maverick Sanders and Jordan Clark hit back-to-back layups to extend Central Washington's lead to 17.
• Clark's elbow three puts the 'Cats up 20. On the next possession, Hector got the ball down low and slammed it home.
• Holden found Colby Gennett for a three-pointer that pushed the 'Cats lead to 33 with 10:50 remaining.
• Central Washington continued knocking down shots in the final ten minutes and cruised to an 81-47 victory.

UP NEXT

• The Wildcats will take this momentum into next week where they open GNAC play on the road against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's.