Wildcats Hold off Pesky Wolves, 88-84

Western Oregon makes hard run at close, but CWU wins.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Central Washington led for nearly the entire game but still had to fend off a late Western Oregon surge to win a men’s basketball game at the Physical Education Building on Saturday night, 88-84.

Central improved to 14-6 overall with the win and moved to 9-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Oregon dropped to 11-9 on the season and to 4-7 in conference play.

The Wildcats led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Western Oregon climbed back to within two points with 26 seconds left on a lay-in by Travis Kuhns. After a WOU foul, Giovonne Woods hit one of two free throws for Central (85-82), giving the Wolves the ball back with 23 seconds left and a chance to tie the game.

The Wolves opted to go for the quick two points but missed, and CWU got the rebound. WOU quickly fouled again, and Nate Jackson hit one of two free throws to give the Wildcats a four point lead. Adonal Arrington scored to make it a two-point game again, but CWU’s Colton Monti nailed both of his free throw attempts with four seconds left to seal the game.

Woods finished with 21 points off the bench to lead all scorers, while Jackson had 17 (14 of those in the first half).

Arrington had 19 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Wolves, while freshman point guard Dane Johnson had a collegiate-best 18 points. He also had six assists. Kuhns was also in double figures with 14 points, and Stanley Ratcliff had 13 points in a reserve role, making all six of his shots from the field.

The Wolves shot 60 percent from the field, but turned the ball over 25 times.

Western Oregon jumped out to a 10-5 lead early, but Central Washington then turned up the pressure on defense and got its running game going on offense. The Wildcats went on an 18-3 run and eventually took a 28-15 lead. But the Wolves countered with a blitz of its own, taking a 33-32 lead on a Johnson lay-in, capping an 18-4 run. After trading hoops, CWU took a 45-42 lead into the locker room at intermission.

WOU will hit the road next week, with a Thursday game at Montana State Billings and a Saturday contest at Seattle.

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