ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team competed and kept the score close against No. 12 Saint Martin's for 90 percent of the game, but the Saint pulled away late to seal a 78-66 victory over the Wildcats on Thursday night.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

• Final: Central Washington (66), Saint Martin's (78)
• Records: CWU (9-10, 3-5 GNAC), SMU (16-2, 8-0 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON RINTA:
 
"We had trouble keeping Saint Martin's off the offensive glass tonight. We knew they were one of the better rebounding teams in the country and couldn't let them get that many."
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Central struck first with Calvin Sisk opening the scoring, followed by a three from Eli Williams to give the Wildcats an early 5-0 lead.
• SMU responded with an 8-0 with Pablo Navarro hitting four free throws and Diego Trejo-Delgado finished inside twice to put the Saints ahead 8-5.
• The Wildcats answered back with a 15-9 run sparked by a Bradley Swillie three-pointer to give CWU a 20-17 lead with 9:16 left in the half.
• The Crimson and Black continued to hold its lead for nearly four minutes, getting a pair of big plays from Jordan Clark to give the 'Cats a five-point lead. But the Saints battled back and tied it up with a layup from Trejo-Delgado at 24-24. The teams then traded points and the lead for the remainder of the first half as the score reached a 33-33 tie into halftime.
• Clark opened the second half with a pair of free throws. However, SMU found its offense after that, scoring 10 unanswered points to take a 43-35 lead. Central responded and fought back to cut the lead down to one with the Saints leading 53-52 with 9:34 remaining.
• From that moment on, however, the Wildcats' steam began to cool while Saint Martin's continued to produce a steady offense, going on a 12-5 run to make it a 65-57 lead with 5:11 left in the game. The 'Cats fought to cut down the lead, but SMU continued to score and finished the game off with a 13-9 run to win 78-66.
   

STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Clark led the Wildcats with 17 points, eight assists, and three rebounds.
• Swillie scored 15 points, while logging three rebounds.
• Jalen Childs logged eight points, three rebounds, and one block.
• Garrett Marrs recorded six points, three rebounds, and three assists.
• Sisk tallied six points, seven blocks, and six rebounds.
• Xavier Kamalu-Vargas logged four points, while tallying four assists, one block, and one steal.
• Chae Haynes recorded four points, six rebounds, and two assists.
• Williams tallied three points, two rebounds, and an assist.
• Jamari Harris logged three points, a rebound, and an assist.
• Both teams scored 33 points in the first half and Central repeated that 33 again in the second half, but SMU scored 45 as the big difference maker.
• CWU shot 41.4 percent from the floor, 31 percent from three, and 100 percent at the free-throw line.
• Trejo-Delgado led the Saints with 31 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, and also recorded four assists, and three blocks, while shooting 48 percent on 25 shots from the field.
• SMU shot 40.6 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from three, and 92.9 percent at the free-throw line.
• The Saints outrebounded the 'Cats 45-31, including 19-8 in offensive boards.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• CWU leads the all-time series 160-47.
• SMU started a new streak with Thursday's victory.
• The Wildcats are 84-20 against the Saints in Nicholson Arena

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats hit the Nicholson court again on Saturday to take on Western Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.