Wolves Hold off Cavaliers for 77-65 Victory

Western Oregon moves to 6-2 with Classic win over Concordia.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon’s Travis Kuhns had 18 points, seven assists and three steals to help lead the Wolves to a 77-65 win over Concordia in the Phoenix Inn & Suites WOU Men’s Basketball Classic on Friday night at the Physical Education Building.

The win improved WOU’s record to 6-2 on the season, while the Cavaliers fell to 5-6. Western Oregon will play Sonoma State on Saturday (6 pm), while Central Washington will take on Concordia (4 pm) in the pre-set tournament format.

Western Oregon shot 61 percent from the field in the first half to take a 42-30 halftime lead. Kuhns was perfect from the field (5-5), free throw line (3-3) and three-point range (1-1) to post 14 points at the break. Concordia hit just 10 of 30 shots in the first 20 minutes and had five shots blocked.

But the NAIA Cavaliers overcame the 12-point halftime deficit and rallied to tie the contest on a basket by Steven Vaughn with 10 minutes to play (56-56). Three treys by Cody Aker helped pull the visitors into the deadlock.

WOU would then pull away though behind Kuhns and Mike McLaughlin. Kuhns hit a pair of free throws and then later had a steal and a dunk, while McLaughlin scored six of WOU’s eight points during a run that put the Wolves up at 66-60.

Kuhns hit six of nine shots on the night to lead five WOU players in double figures. Sam Kelly and McLaughlin had 12 points, Liam Hughes added 11 points and nine rebounds and Brad Krichevsky had 10.

Ryan Johnson led Concordia with 18 points, Aker had 17 and Matt Ochs finished with 14.

The Wolves out-rebounded Concordia 42-26 and held the visitors to 37 percent shooting.

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