ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team (6-3, 2-0 GNAC) came back to stun its rival, the Western Washington Vikings (6-3, 0-2 GNAC) 79-76 Saturday evening after trailing for most of the game.

Quoting Head Coach Brandon Rinta
"Very proud of the heart this team showed tonight. We did not play well in the first half. Then we come out in the second half and they stretched their lead from 10 to 18. Everybody kept fighting and eventually, Jordan and Cavin were able to get us back in the game.

They had two special performances tonight.

Kobe hit a huge three in the corner and Mitch has been a force inside rebounding."

Notable Stats

• Cavin Holden goes off, scoring a career-high 29 points, and going 10-13 for a .769 field goal percentage.
• Mitch Brizee was the big presence of the game, getting good-timed shots to keep the momentum in the 'Cats' favor.
• Brizee also led the team in rebounds with 13 total, including seven offensive boards.
• Holden and Brizee led in assists, recording four each.

First Half

• The first half began evenly as both teams battled through the first five minutes to become tied at 11-11
• WWU got an edge, capitalizing on several Wildcat misses to build a 27-18 lead.
• Central fought to keep the score close and the Vikings held the momentum to bring the lead to a 42-28 lead.
• CWU went on a 6-4 run to close out the first half, trailing 34-46.

Second Half

• The Vikings started the second half hot, scoring six unanswered points to lead 52-34.
• The 'Cats flipped the momentum and scored 10 straight points to cut the lead to eight.
• WWU scored a jump shot, but Central continued the momentum, going on a 14-7 run to cut the Western lead to 59-58.
• The Wildcats kept scoring, as the Vikings kept a narrow lead with the score getting to 66-64.
• Will Wilson got a layup for the Vikings to lead 68-64 and after a free throw from Garrett Anderson, Holden had a look and dropped a three-pointer to tie it at 68-68.
• The teams traded a pair of points, but the Tijan Saine was fouled behind the arc and sunk his three shots to take the lead for the Vikings 73-70.
• Brizee hit a free throw, and Holden dropped a jump shot to tie it at 73-73.
• Wilson scored two points to put the Vikings back in front.
• Anderson sinks a free throw to trail 74-75, and after getting a stop, Kobe Parlin hits a three-pointer to get the Wildcats' first lead of the second half with 1:28 remaining.
• Saine gets fouled but only gets one free throw, as the Wildcats hold the lead.
• After a pair of free throws from Holden to lead 79-76, the Vikings had one last drive and Saine tried to draw a three-point foul, but to no avail, as Parlin gets the takeaway and the time expired with the Crimson and Black complete the comeback over its rival, winning 79-76.

Up Next
The Wildcats are back home next Saturday, Dec 14 when they host the Evergreen State Geoducks. Tip-off from Nicholson is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.