ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team held a six-point lead at halftime but couldn't hold it and fell to Western Washington 92-103 Thursday evening at Nicholson Arena.                                 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (92), Western Washington (103)
• Records: CWU (14-14, 8-9 GNAC), WWU (13-15, 7-10 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Both teams battled equally through the first eight minutes, with Eli Williams hitting a layup to tie the game at 18-18 with 12:11 remaining. The 'Cats then went on a 6-2 run to take a 24-20 lead. Central continued to put on the pressure, taking a 41-27 lead with just over four minutes left in the first half.
• The Viking then began to find a rhythm, going on a 12-4 run to cut the lead to six with 51 seconds remaining in the half. The run saw Bradley Swillie hit a driving layup but drew a technical foul on the following reaction. The teams traded a pair of free throws from Jordan Clark and Trevor White to close out the first half with CWU leading 47-41.
• WWU shot out of the gate in the second half, scoring 11 straight points to flip the score and take a 52-47 lead in the first two minutes of the half. Chae Haynes broke the run with a layup to make it a 49-52 lead. Nehemiah Pollard responded with a dunk, but his celebration drew a technical foul, as Clark hit the ensuing free throws. Pollard answered with another dunk on the fastbreak to give Western a 56-51 lead with just under three minutes elapsed in the second half.
• Both teams battled through the next four minutes as each side saw strong plays from Aidan Rice and Garrett Levesque for WWU and Xavier Kamalu-Vargas and Williams for the 'Cats. Then while trailing 61-67, Central got a pair of big plays from Williams and Clark to cut the lead to two with 11:46 remaining.
• Western responded with a six point run to make it 73-65, and Williams hit a layup to break the run, but was answered immediately with a three-pointer from Pollard. The Vikings held a steady lead for the next three minutes, then Central found a rhythm and cut the lead to one point after Clark hit a three-pointer, followed by a Garrett Marrs layup to make it a 81-82 game.
• The teams traded the next few points to keep the score within one. Then, WWU found their rhythm as Levesque went on a 10-4 run to extend the lead for Western to 94-87 with 1:47 remaining. A battle of fouls and free throws ensued as Central attempted to claw back at the lead. However, they could get within four before the Vikings found their rhythm again to close out the game with seven straight points to claim the 103-92 victory over the Wildcats.
   

STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Eli Williams led the Wildcats with 27 points, while recording seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
• Bradley Swillie added 20 points, five assists, two rebounds, and a steal.
• Jordan Clark logged 14 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
• Chae Haynes recorded 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a block.
• Garrett Marrs tallied eight points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Calvin Sisk added four points, a rebound, and a block.
• Xavier Kamalu-Vargas logged four points, seven rebounds, and an assist.
• Jamari Harris tallied four points, and four rebounds.
• CWU finished the game shooting 48.6 percent from the floor, 25 percent from three, and 65 percent from the free-throw line.
• Garrett Levesque led the Vikings with 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Nehemiah Pollard followed with 26 points, six rebounds, and two steals, while Dennis Johnson III scored 23 points, and led with nine rebounds.
• WWU shot 53.6 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from three, and 78.3 percent at the free-throw line.
• Central won the rebound battle 42-36.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Central lead the all-time series 161-110.
• The Vikings are on a three-game win-streak.
• CWU is 97-36 against Western at Nicholson Arena.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats host for the last time this season on Saturday, Feb. 28, when they take on the Red Leafs of Simon Fraser for Senior Day. CWU will honor its two seniors, Calvin Sisk and Xavier Kamalu-Vargas. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the Wildcat women's basketball team's home finale against Northwest Nazarene.