SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Central Washington University Wildcats men's basketball team (3-3) was defeated by Vanguard University (4-0) 85-76 Friday evening in their first match of the Point Loma Nazarene University Thanksgiving Classic.
Quoting Head Coach Brandon Rinta
"Vanguards is a very experienced team with seven seniors and is the best defensive team we have faced this year. We have to be able to take better care of the ball against a team of that caliber. Our guys fought all game, but we ended up having too many mistakes and that cost us the game."
Notable Stats
- Garrett Anderson led the Wildcats in points with 20, and rebounds with 11 total boards.
- Maverick Sanders scored 17 points and led the team in shooting, going 6-11 for a .546 percentage.
- Four players led in assists. Anderson, Sanders, Cavin Holden, and Jordan Clark each recorded two assists.
- Kobe Parlin led the team in steals with three.
First Half
- Both teams battled to begin the game, trading the lead up to an 8-8 tie.
- Vanguard got an edge as Jackson Larsen scored four points to lead 12-8.
- Central answered with a layup from Sanders, a dunk from Calvin Sisk, and a three-pointer from Eli Williams to lead 15-12.
- Carson Frawley and Anthony Tello responded with back-to-back three-pointers to retake the lead for the Lions 18-15.
- The Lions held the lead going into halftime, but CWU was right behind them and finished the first half trailing 40-39.
Second Half
- The Lions opened the scoring for the second half with a three-pointer from Tello.
- The Wildcats answered with six unanswered points to take a 45-43 lead.
- Vanguard tied it back up, but the 'Cats responded with six more points to lead 51-45.
- Central held the lead as they answered a pair of Lion free throws with a Williams layup to lead 53-47.
- The Lions caught a surge, scoring nine straight points to retake the lead 56-53.
- CWU fought to keep the score close, but Vanguard began to build their lead and continued to answer all scoring chances by the Wildcats to ultimately win the game 85-76.
Up Next
The Wildcats remain in San Diego for one more match in the PLNU Thanksgiving Classic, taking on the hosting Point Loma Sea Lions tomorrow, Saturday, Nov 30. at 4:00 p.m. from Golden Gymnasium.