ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team claimed a spot in the GNAC tournament next weekend after defeating Simon Fraser on Saturday afternoon at Nicholson Arena for Senior Day.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 

• Final: Central Washington (86), Simon Fraser (66)
• Records: CWU (15-14, 9-9 GNAC), SFU (7-21, 4-14 GNAC)
• Location: Nicholson Arena (Ellensburg, Wash.)

 
QUOTING CWU HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON RINTA:

"It felt good to send Calvin and Xavier out with a win on Senior night. Those two are winners and have done so much for this program. Our ball movement was fun to watch today. 29 assists on 35 field goals is an impressive stat. Brad, Eli, and Jordan lead the charge with 22 of those. We are tough to beat when Jamari, Eli, and Garrett shoot it like that."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Simon Fraser briefly grabbed a 5-4 lead, Central answered with strong plays from Calvin Sisk and Bradley Swillie, then turned steals into quick points to build a 14-9 advantage and seize control midway through the first half.
• Jamari Harris sparked a big run late in the first half, knocking down three quick three-pointers to push the lead into double digits. Jalen Childs added free throws and Chae Haynes scored in the paint in the closing seconds to head into the halftime with a 40-27 lead.
• Simon Fraser attempted to cut into the lead at the start of the second half, but the Wildcats responded with three-pointers from Eli Williams and Garrett Marrs in the first few minutes, extending the cushion to 48-30 and forcing the Red Leafs to chase.
• Consecutive threes from Marrs and Childs, followed by transition finishes from Jordan Clark and Williams, pushed the lead past 20. Clark and Williams' shots from beyond the arc made it 73-53 with under eight minutes to play.
• CWU continued to attack down low through Sisk down the stretch, building the lead as large as 24 before closing out an 86-66 victory to finish conference play with a clinched spot in next week's GNAC tournament.
   

STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Calvin Sisk led the 'Cats with 18 points, while recording three rebounds, three blocks, and an assist, as well as shoot 75 percent from the floor.
• Jordan Clark followed with 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, a block, and a steal.
• Eli Williams added 15 points, five assists, three rebounds, and a steal.
• Jamari Harris closed out the double digit scorers with 13 points, while logging eight rebounds and a steal.
• Bradley Swillie recorded eight points, five rebounds, two steals, and a block, while leading the team with 11 assists.
• Garrett Marrs tallied six points, six rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Jalen Childs recorded five points, three rebounds, and an assist.
• Chae Haynes logged four points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a block.
• Xavier Kamalu-Vargas contributed a rebound and an assist.
• CWU finished the game shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, 40.6 percent from three, and 60 percent from the free-throw line.
• Sartaj Bhangu led the Red Leafs with 17 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Tate Christiansen followed with 13 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• SFU shot 47.2 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from three, and 47.1 percent at the free-throw line.
• Central dominated the rebound battle 43-26.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats lead the all-time series 69-22.
• Central is on a one-game winning streak.
• CWU is 42-3 against Simon Fraser at Nicholson Arena.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The fourth-seeded Wildcats will take on the fifth-seeded Seattle Pacific Falcons in the first round of the GNAC Tournament starting on Thursday, March 5. Tip-off from Carver Gym in Bellingham, Wash. is set for 7:30 p.m.