ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team used a dominant second half to pull away from Seattle Pacific, winning 86-60 Saturday night at Nicholson Arena in a game that saw junior guard Jordan Clark break 1,000 career points.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (86), Seattle Pacifc (60)
• Records: CWU (13-12, 7-7 GNAC), SPU (12-10, 7-8 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON RINTA:
 
"That was a great team win tonight. Everyone had a positive impact on the game when they went in. Defensively, we did a good job of pressuring them and holding a very good shooting team to only two made threes. Offensively, we did a great job of sharing the ball with 22 assists lead by Swillie's seven. It was fitting that Jordan would break the game open in the second half as he eclipsed the 1000 point mark. He and Garrett shot the ball really well."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Garrett Marrs opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and early baskets in the paint from Calvin Sisk pushed the Wildcats to a quick two-possession lead.
• After SPU briefly cut the margin to 11-9, Central forced consecutive turnovers and turned them into points, highlighted by a Jalen Childs fast-break layup and free throws that stretched the lead to six.
• A sequence of fouls led to free throws from Clark, Bradley Swillie, and Chae Haynes, capping a 13-4 run and extending the advantage into double digits.
• Xavier Kamalu-Vargas converted a steal into a fast-break layup and Swillie added a late basket as the Wildcats carried a 38-26 lead into halftime.
• Clark opened the second half with a jumpshot to make CWU's lead up to 14. Swillie followed with a triple, and another Clark three capped a rapid 14-2 rush. Clark's three-pointer would be his 1,000th career point scored.
• Marrs hit a transition three and Clark connected again from deep as Central stretched the lead to 60-28 midway through the half, effectively sealing the game.
• Bench players Isaiah Cuellar and Luke Westerfield hit thrilling baskets late in the game, with Cuellar hitting a three from the corner and Westerfield slamming a dunk that brought the Nicholson crowd to their feet, as the Wildcats closed out the game 86-60.
   

STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Clark led the 'Cats with 17 points, while recording four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
• Swillie and Kamalu-Vargas each scored 13 points. Swillie logged seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal, while Kamalu-Vargas recorded seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
• Marrs finished the game with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Every Wildcat that saw the court contributed to the final score.
• CWU finished the game shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, 36.7 percent from three, and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line.
• Trace Evans led the Falcons with 10 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• SPU shot 46.3 percent from the floor, 11.1 percent from three, and 53.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• CWU won the rebound battle 32-30.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Central lead the all-time series 80-70.
• The Wildcats are now on a one-game win-streak.
• CWU is 47-21 against SPU in Nicholson Arena.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats head back out for the final road trip of the regular season, taking on Western Oregon on Thursday, Feb. 19, and then #18 Saint Martin's on Saturday, Feb. 21.