ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team battled down to the end of Thursday's game and defeated Montana State Billings in a game that saw neither team fall behind five points in a instant classic of the conference clash.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (77), Montana State Billings (75)
- Records: CWU (12-12, 6-7 GNAC), MSUB (20-7, 9-5 GNAC)
- Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)
QUOTING CWU HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON RINTA:
"The fact that we did not play our best tonight and still found a way to beat a good team like MSUB says a lot about this team. They kept fighting to find a rhythm and made just enough plays down the stretch. Our defense was the difference holding them to 41 percent from the floor and 21 percent from three."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The teams opened the game by trading the first six points. Then, the Yellowjackets got a big three from Mason Landdeck to make it a 9-6 lead. The Wildcats tied it back up at 12-12 behind strong plays from Calvin Sisk and Eli Williams.
- The 'Cats got the lead off a Jordan Clark free throw, and then Jalen Childs answered an MSUB layup with five straight points to make it an 18-14 lead. The teams then battled through the last 10 minutes of the first half with each team trading runs as Montana State Billings took a 40-39 lead into halftime.
- Both teams came out of the break with explosive offense, trading the lead in the first couple of minutes before MSUB settled into a groove that gave the 'Jackets a 53-48 lead with just under six minutes into the second half.
- CWU continued to battle to keep the lead from growing, eventually cutting the score down to one point after a three-pointer from Williams to make it 60-61. The Yellowjackets got a layup from Croix Cox, but the Crimson and Black responded with a huge dunk from Jamari Harris and two free throws from Clark to take a 64-63 lead with 6:27 remaining.
- The teams continued to battle and traded points as the Central held a narrow lead down to under a minute. Then, MSUB got a layup from Jakob Milling that drew a foul; he would convert the and-one, and the score would be tied at 75-75 with 0:30 left in regulation. With just a second's difference in the shot clock and game clock, the Wildcats looked to hold possession until the last possible second, and Williams did the trick drawing a foul on the drive to the basket with one second left; he then hit both free throws to take a 77-75 lead, and with a last-second chance, Landdeck heaved a shot that went off-course as the celebration ensued in Nicholson to celebrate the 'Cats' victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Jordan Clark led the Wildcats with 25 points, while recording six assists, five rebounds, and one steal.
- Eli Williams added 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
- Jamari Harris tallied nine points, five rebounds, and three steals.
- Calvin Sisk scored eight points, while recording five rebounds, three blocks, an assist, and a steal.
- Jalen Childs logged seven points, a rebound, and an assist.
- Chae Haynes recorded six points, four rebounds, four blocks, two assists, and a steal.
- Garrett Marrs added three points and three rebounds
- Bradley Swillie tallied two points and a rebound.
- Xavier Kamalu-Vargas logged six rebounds, four assists, and a point.
- CWU finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three, and 84 percent from the free-throw line.
- Landdeck led the Yellowjackets with 20 points and 10 assist. Cox and Milling each recorded 14 points and one block, while Milling led with eight rebounds and five steals.
- MSUB shot 40.8 percent from the floor, 20.8 percent from three, and 75 percent at the free-throw line.
- MSUB won the rebound battle 43-38.
SERIES HISTORY:
- Central lead the all-time series 29-15.
- The Wildcats are on a three-game win-streak.
- CWU is 16-5 against MSUB at Nicholson Arena.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats remain home for one more game this Saturday, Feb. 14 against Seattle Pacific. Tip-off from Nicholson is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
