LACEY, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team (12-6, 6-2 GNAC) saw its four-game win streak end after losing to Saint Martin's University (17-4, 6-2 GNAC) 55-67 Thursday night in the Marcus Pavilion in Lacey, Wash.

Quoting Head Coach Brandon Rinta
"We struggled to win the possession game tonight. Turnovers and offensive rebounds cost us this one. Saint Martin's is a good team and tough to beat on their home floor. Our guys never stopped competing, but we couldn't find the level of play we needed."

Notable Stats

• Jordan Clark led the team in scoring with 18 points.
• Cavin Holden led in assists with five total.
• Mitch Brizee led in rebounds with six boards.
• Rebounds were a huge asset in the game for Saint Martin's. Myles Samuels and Jayshawn Moore each had 10 boards for the Saints. SMU also out-rebounded the Wildcats by over 13 rebounds, including 17 offensive boards.

First Half

• Central got the early edge, building a 13-6 lead in the first five minutes.
• Saint Martin's responded with a 9-2 run to tie it at 15-15.
• The teams traded the lead for the next three minutes before CWU built a lead again to get the score to 27-23.
• However, the 'Cats went cold, and SMU capitalized on the opportunity, scoring 18 unanswered points to take a 41-27 lead.
• The Wildcats stopped the surge after Clark hit a three-pointer, but the points would be overturned due to a shot-clock violation after an official review at halftime.
• Jaden Nielsen-Skinner finished off the half with a buzzer-beater three-pointer to make it 44-27 at halftime as Central could not score in the last 7:53 of the first half.

Second Half

• CWU started the second half strong, going on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 11.
• SMU hit a pair of free throws to build the lead to 48-35
• Maverick Sanders answered with a pair of free throws and then got two more on a dunk to cut the lead to nine points.
• The Saints got a layup, and Sanders got a free throw to make it 50-40.
• Both teams went cold for the next three and a half minutes before Dyson Lighthall hit a layup to build the Saints' lead to 52-40.
• Marcel Stevens hit a jump shot and Clark responded with a pair of free throws. Stevens got a three-pointer and Clark answered with a three-pointer of his own.
• Central fought strong and continued to score through the final minutes, but SMU's offense continued to answer as they closed out the game with the 67-55 win.

Up Next
The Wildcats head south to Monmouth, Ore to take on the Western Oregon University Wolves on Saturday, Jan 25. Tip-off scheduled for 4:15 p.m.