ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Colby Gennett scored a career-high 19 points and didn't miss a shot as the 'Cats beat Alaska Anchorage 75-66. Gennett was a perfect 7-7 from the floor, 3-3 from beyond the arc, and 2-2 from the charity stripe. Central Washington utilized strong defense in the second half to claim their eleventh victory in Nicholson Arena.
Colby Gennett talked about the game and his career night. "It felt good to defend home court, especially against a team that beat us at their place. I was able to get in a rhythm and I have teammates and coaches who trust me in the moment to make the right play. It felt good to shoot the ball and play at the level I know I am capable of and I'm ready to maintain that level of play the rest of the season."
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"For the second game in a row, our second half defense was the difference. It is scary giving a good shooting team like UAA 20 threes in the first half. We needed to hold them to at least 10 attempts in the second half."
Rinta added, "Samaad was big for us inside tonight, rebounding and scoring in the paint. Colby came up with his best performance of the year. He was on fire tonight and grabbed some big offensive rebounds."
NOTABLE STATS
- Samaad Hector led the 'Cats, scoring 20 points and hauling in nine rebounds.
- In his career-high performance, Gennett scored 19 points and corralled six boards. Gennett made all nine of his shots on the night.
- The 'Cats won the rebounding battle 40-24, shot 51.9% from the field, and made 13 free throws.
- Alaska Anchorage had three players put up double figures: Tyson Gilbert 16 points, Jaron Williams 13 points, and Dathan Satchell 12 points.
FIRST HALF
- Alaska Anchorage took a 6-3 lead early after Dathan Satchell buried a triple. A few possessions later, Jordan Clark stole the ball and found Maverick Sanders, who threw down a ferocious dunk that sparked CWU and brought the crowd to life.
- Tyson Gilbert's three capped off an 11-4 run for the Seawolves, which put them ahead by three at the halfway point.
- Colby Gennett scored ten points in the half and nailed two big threes to close out the first twenty minutes. At the half, Alaska Anchorage led 38-35.
SECOND HALF
- The 'Cats opened the second half on an 11-6 run and took the 46-44 lead. The crimson and black did a great job getting baskets inside, making three layups and a jumper. Next, Colby Gennett buried a three to put the 'Cats up by nine.
- With 5:24 remaining, Tyson Gilbert drove into the lane and made a layup to cut the deficit to six, 66-58.
- Samaad Hector scored on three straight trips down the floor. The 'Cats took a comfortable 12-point lead with 3:11 left.
- In the last minute, Colby Gennett stepped up to the free-throw line and converted both free throws, which gave him 19 points and a new career high. Central Washington won 75-66 and picked up their 11th home win of the season.
UP NEXT
- The Wildcats head to Nampa, Idaho next week to face Northwest Nazarene.
