LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Central Washington men's basketball saw their historic season come to an end on Saturday night after an 82-74 loss to Azusa Pacific in the second round. Cavin Holden scored 24 points and Anjaylo Lloyd put up 22 points on the night. The 'Cats historic season was highlighted by a GNAC Tournament Championship and a first round NCAA victory, the first since 2001.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
 
"I was proud of how the team fought today. Azusa Pacific is a really big and skilled team. We were right there with them the whole game. We just had a few key turnovers late in the game that hurt our momentum. 
 
Losing Samaad three minutes into the game obviously hurt. He is a big part of who we are and from a matchup standpoint he was instrumental in our ability to put APU in tough spots. Our other forwards stepped up and played well in his absence. Even when we went small, everyone did a great job of holding a much bigger team to only five offensive rebounds.
 
It is very unfortunate that Samaad's career had to end like that. Cam, Jello, and him have all done so much for this program. I'm grateful for what they have given us."
 
NOTABLE STATS
 

• Cavin Holden scored a game-high 24 points, Anjaylo Lloyd added 22 points, and Bradley Swillie had nine.
• Azusa Pacific had four players score in double figures led by Ken West scoring 21 points.
• The Cougars shot 54.4% from the floor compared to the Wildcats 40.3%.

 
FIRST HALF
 

• Azusa Pacific hit two early threes and took the 11-5 lead. Jordan Clark and Camron McNeil responded for Central Washington. Clark hit a triple and the next trip down the floor McNeil made a pull up jumper. Four possessions later, Clark came down the floor and passed it to Cavin Holden, who nailed a three to bring the 'Cats within a point with just over 11 minutes remaining. 
• Holden kept the 'Cats within striking distance. He drove the lane and finished the and one, then hit another three which gave the Wildcats the 21-20 lead, their first of the game.
• Bryce Sloan made a layup that sparked a 9-0 Cougars run. At this point it looked like Azusa Pacific might continue to score, but Central Washington did what they've been doing all year by getting stops on the defensive end sparking a 7-0 run to regain the lead.
• Azusa Pacific scored six points in the final two minutes, but threes from Lloyd and McNeil erased the Cougars five-point advantage. McNeil buried a trey to end the half and the 'Cats went into the locker room trailing 40-38.

 
SECOND HALF
 

• Jello sunk two jumpers to start the half and give CWU the 44-41 lead. Bryce Sloan responded making a three for Azusa Pacific to tie it up. This was a common theme early in the frame as Sloan did the same thing a couple possessions later to tie the game at 49.
• It was a back and forth battle the whole half, and every time the 'Cats would get ahead, the Cougars answered with small runs to go up by three to five points.   
• Mitch Brizee converted a layup and a couple possessions later followed by Swillie's and one cut the Azusa lead to three. Two more free throws from Swillie cut it to one, 65-64 with 6:02 left. 
• Azusa Pacific never trailed in the last six minutes thanks to a 10-3 run which gave them the late eight-point lead. The Cougars made their late game free throws to secure the 82-74 victory and advance to the Sweet 16.

 
YOUR WILDCATS
 
Congratulations to Central Washington men's basketball on a historic season. The coaches and players put in hard work which resulted in a GNAC Tournament Championship, the team's first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2011, and an NCAA Tournament win in the first round. Congratulations on an incredible season.