ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball wraps up the regular season this week with two home games against Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. The Wildcats will honor Samaad Hector, Camron McNeil, and Anjaylo Jello Lloyd for Senior Night prior to tip off on Saturday.

GAME INFO
Thursday, February 29
7:30 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Saint Martin's
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
 
Senior Night
Saturday, March 2
6:15 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Western Oregon
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Wash.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"As always, there will be a lot on the line going into the last weekend of conference play. There will be a definite playoff atmosphere in Nicholson Pavilion as teams are fighting for post season seeding." 

GNAC PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament is from March 7^th – 9^th in Ellensburg, Washington. The top six teams in the conference make the tournament with the top two teams earning a first round bye. Saint Martin's has already clinched a spot in the GNAC tournament. Western Oregon is mathematically out of the tournament.
 
Central Washington is tied for fourth in the GNAC with Alaska Anchorage  at 9-7, one game ahead of Seattle Pacific and Western Washington who both hold 9-6 records.
With a win this week, the Wildcats would secure a spot in the tournament.

SCOUTING #21 SAINT MARTIN'S
The Saints has had a terrific season and are second in the conference with an 11-5 record in GNAC play. Saint Martin's is 21st in the nation boasting an 21-5 overall record. Last week, Saint Martin's split games with the Alaska Schools. On Thursday, Alaska Anchorage won 80-79. On Saturday, the Saints bounced back securing the 86-67 victory over Alaska Fairbanks.
 
The Saints had four players score in double figures in the loss to Alaska Anchorage. Tyke Thompson led the way, scoring 17 points on 6-14 from the floor, two threes, and three free throws. Marcel Stevens and Kaden Hansen propelled the Saints to Saturday's win. Stevens scored 16 points and made four from beyond the arc, while Hansen came in off the bench and put up 15 points to go with eight rebounds.
 
Kyle Greeley leads Saint Martin's and is third in the GNAC averaging 16.4 points per game. Tyke Thompson is seventh in the conference on the glass, collecting 6.5 rebounds per contest. Jaden Nielsen Skinner is the main facilitator for the Saints and has 119 assists this season.  

SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
The Wolves are 5-19 overall and 2-14 in GNAC play. Western Oregon is desperately trying to snap an eight-game losing streak. Last weekend they fell 89-84 in overtime to Alaska Fairbanks and then suffered a 72-51 setback against Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.
 
Jason Gallant scored a season-high 31 points in the loss to Alaska Fairbanks. He shot 10-18 from the floor and made all ten of his free throws. He backed up Thursday's performance with a 15-point outing on Saturday.

The Wolves have five players averaging double digit scoring: Qiant Myers (16.3), Jason Gallant (15.3), Cameron Benzel (14.5), Kris Cook (14.4), and Carson Frincke (10.0). Benzel leads the team averaging 8.3 rebounds per game.

LAST TIME OUT
The 'Cats split conference games last week. Central Washington traveled to Burnaby and picked up the 71-67 victory over Simon Fraser. Western Washington claimed the 87-76 win on Saturday in the second installment of the heated rivalry.
 
Jello Lloyd leads the team averaging 13.2 points per game. He is also the main outside threat for the 'Cats with 52 threes on the season. Samaad Hector is putting up 12.5 ppg and is at the top of the GNAC, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT
With a win this week, Central Washington clinches a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. The GNAC Tournament takes place here in Ellensburg, Washington, from March 7^th to 9^th.