ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball plays their final two games at home this week facing Simon Fraser on Thursday, February 16^th at 7:00 p.m. and senior day against Western Washington Saturday, February 18^th at 6:00 p.m.

QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA

"It has been great to be able to play our recent home games in the PAV and we are looking forward to these last two home games. We appreciate all the hard work that has gone into getting us back into our gym for games." 

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats fell 60-61 in a dramatic finish to Northwest Nazarene last Saturday at Nicholson Pavilion. Central Washington fought hard all game and a three from Isaiah Banks gave the 'Cats a ten-point lead with 6:28 left in the game. The Nighthawks clawed back and cut it to four. With just over a minute remaining, Samaad Hector nailed a clutch three from the top of the key which made it 60-53. Ryzin Bergersen put the team on his back and made back-to-back threes, one to cut it to four, then another twenty seconds later that made it 59-60. Tru Allen drove up the right side and made a baseline floater with ten seconds left to give NNU the dramatic win.

WILDCAT STATS

Camron McNeil leads the team offensively, averaging 13.8 points per game. Matt Poquette and Samaad Hector average 12.3 and 12.4 ppg. On the glass, Matt Poquette averages 6.7 boards per game. Brock Gilbert leads the GNAC in assists with 139 this season. Camron McNeil leads the team from beyond the arc shooting 38.5% and Mitch Brizee owns the highest field goal percentage at 64.9%
 
SCOUTING SIMON FRASER

Simon Fraser is 6-19 overall and 1-14 in GNAC play. The Red Leafs lost to Alaska Fairbanks 75-58 at home last Saturday. Trailing 28-17 the Red Leafs responded with a 7-0 run beginning with a fast break that resulted in a layup. In the second half, Immanuel Oludele hit a three cutting the deficit to seven. Alaska Fairbanks fended off the comeback and secured the road win.
Oludele leads the team in scoring averaging 10.6 points per game. Zach Stone is the Red Leafs best rebounder and hauls in 4.8 boards per game. David Penney shoots 37% from deep and Zach Stone converts 80% from the free-throw line.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN WASHINGTON

Western Washington has a 13-12 overall record and is 6-9 in GNAC action. Before taking on the Wildcats, Western Washington faces Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. The Vikings lost to Alaska Anchorage 79-89 last Saturday. The Seawolves dominated the game and never trailed. In the second half, Western chipped away at the 18-point deficit. With just over two minutes remaining, the Vikings only trailed by eight points. Alaska Anchorage played smart down the stretch to grab their third straight victory.
D'Angelo Minnis is Westerns best scorer averaging 13.9 points per game. BJ Kolly leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.1 boards per game. Darius Gary is the sharpshooter for Western Washington, he makes 55.6% from deep. Kai Johnson facilitates the Vikings offense and has 80 assists this season. 
 
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

A win Thursday night would help the Wildcats as they fight for 6^th place in the GNAC and the last spot in the conference tournament. Central trails Alaska Fairbanks by one game, Alaska Anchorage by two, and Western Washington by two. 
 
UP NEXT

The 'Cats play their final two games of the season on the road next week. Central Washington squares off with Saint Martin's Thursday, February 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. and then finishes the regular season at Western Oregon Saturday, February 25^th at 4:15 p.m.