ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball closes out the regular season facing 25^th-ranked Saint Martin's on Thursday, February 23^rd, and Western Oregon on Saturday, February 25^th.

GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, February 23^rd
7:30 p.m.
At Saint Martin's
Marcus Pavilion
Lacey, Washington
 
Saturday, February 25^th
4:15
At Western Oregon
New PE Building
Monmouth, Oregon
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"There is always a lot of weight on the last few games of the season. Everybody knows where they stand and what they need to do to put them in the best possible position. We are playing two tough road games this weekend with a chance to lock in our spot in the conference tournament. Each game is going to have a playoff intensity to it."
  
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats sent their seniors out in style with an 86-81 overtime victory against in-state rivals Western Washington in Nicholson Pavilion on Saturday night. The game had a frantic back-and-forth pace and Camron McNeil took advantage of this finishing a layup in transition which gave Central Washington the 35-29 advantage with two minutes left in the first half. The 'Cats went on a 6-0 and took the 40-32 advantage into the locker room.

Western Washington mounted a comeback, Daniel Hornbuckle's jumper made it 58-61. With four minutes remaining, Hornbuckle nailed a three bringing the Vikings within two. McNeil hit a jumper with 1:23 left that put the 'Cats up 74-71. Deangleo Minnis came down the floor and finished a layup making it a one-point game. A foul sent BJ Kolly to the free throw line where he missed his first but made the second to tie the game and force overtime.

To start overtime, Matt Poquette and Isaiah Banks carried the team scoring a combined seven points. Western answered each of Central's baskets with their own. Tied at 81 with 1:25 remaining Samaad Hector buried a clutch three giving the 'Cats the victory.

WILDCAT STATS
Camron McNeil is fourth in the GNAC in scoring averaging 14.5 points per game. Matt Poquette leads the 'Cats on the glass hauling in 6.7 rebounds per game good enough for 2^nd in the conference. Camron McNeil leads the team from beyond the arc shooting 38.1% and Colby Gennett leads the team shooting 78% from the free-throw line. Brock Gilbert orchestrates the 'Cats offense and leads the GNAC averaging 6.7 assists per game.
  
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S
Saint Martin's is 22-4 overall and 14-4 in conference play. Their 14-4 record has them ranked 2^nd in the GNAC standings behind Montana State Billings. The Saints won last Saturday, 83-61 against Alaska Fairbanks.

Saint Martin's used a 13-3 run to take the 23-14 lead with 8 minutes to go in the first half. At the half, the Saints had a 38-29 lead. Sipe drained a three for SMU to start the second half, and from there it was all Saints as they utilized a 25-10 run to gain control. From there, Saint Martin's coasted to their ninth win in a row.

The Saints rank first in the GNAC in scoring margin at +12.7. Kyle Greeley leads the team offensively, averaging 14.5 points per game. On the glass for the Saints Tyke Thompson averages 5.7 boards per game.  Branden Bunn and Tyke Thompson are averaging over 40% from beyond the arc. Thompson has the most success at the free-throw line shooting 87%
 
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
Western Oregon is 11-12 overall and 8-8 in GNAC play. The Wolves beat Alaska Anchorage 74-69 in overtime on Saturday. Western Oregon led 63-61 with under a minute left in the game. Alaska Anchorage scored with 50 seconds left to tie it. Neither team could make a winning basket in regulation. In overtime, the Wolves scored the first six points. With just over a minute left Anchorage got within one before John Morrill-Keeler hit a jumper to make it a three-point game. Western Oregon iced the game with two free throws to win 74-69.
 
Cameron Cranston leads the team offensively, averaging 17.1 points per game. On the glass, Cameron Benzel and John Morrill-Keeler are averaging 6.4 and 6.3 rebounds a game. Jahville Collins leads the team from beyond the arc shooting 49%. From the charity stripe, Cameron Cranston leads the team hitting 84.3% of his free throws. 
 
UP NEXT
With one win this week, the 'Cats would secure a spot in the GNAC tournament. Central Washington would play on Thursday, March 2nd in the first round of the tournament.