Men's Basketball | 1/10/2009 7:32:59 PM
Box Score Monmouth, Ore. - The Western Oregon University men's basketball team held Saint Martin's to a 33.3 field goal percentage as it earned an 83-74 victory to open the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference season, Saturday, Jan. 10.
The win improved the Wolves record to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in the GNAC. The loss was the second consecutive for Saint Martin's as it opened 0-2 in the GNAC. The Saints (12-4) had entered GNAC play on a 12-game winning streak.
Stanley Ratcliff led Western Oregon 's effort as he was one of five WOU student-athletes in double-figures scoring with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, eight steals and two blocks. Blair Wheadon led the Wolves in scoring with 24 points as he went 8-of-13 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Other Western Oregon student-athletes in double-figures included Travis Kuhns (13), Sam Kelly (12) and Matt Schmidt (11).
For the game, Western Oregon shot 45.8 percent compared to 33.3 percent for Saint Martin's but the Saints used an 11-rebound advantage on the offensive glass to stay in the game. WOU was efficient at the free throw line as it made 24 of its 29 attempts.
"They were just so good on the glass," explained Western Oregon head coach Craig Stanger. "They have physical and athletic players and they go to the glass so hard."
The GNAC's leading scorer Jake Linton notched 29 points for the Saints but went just 8-of-26 from the field to achieve those numbers. WOU was able to hold SMU's dynamic post duo of Blake Poole and Bill Richardson to a combined 14 points, 19.3 below their season scoring average.
"Our team stuck to our game plan and was able to limit their 'Big 3' in scoring," noted Stanger. "We didn't think the others on the court could consistently score enough to beat us so we focused on forcing Linton, Richardson and Poole to take a lot of tough shots."
After Saint Martin's scored a three-pointer to open the game, Western Oregon went on a 16-4 run to take the lead. It would hold the lead throughout the first half but Saint Martin 's closed on a 14-6 run to cut WOU's lead to 40-37 at the half. Ratcliff had 12 points (5-6), five rebounds and four steals to lead the Wolves in the first half.
Saint Martin's started the second half on a 12-4 run to take the lead at 49-46 before WOU stormed back with a 9-0 run to take a lead it would never relinquish at 55-49. The Wolves continued to maintain the lead but a Richardson jumper cut WOU's lead to 69-67 with 2:37 remaining. Wheadon would go on to score the next five straight points for Western Oregon to push the lead back to 74-67. The Wolves would then make 9-of-10 free throws to seal the victory.
"The fact that we are getting out of here with a win, I couldn't be happier," explained Stanger. "Every league game is like this and you have to be happy when you get the win."
"We maintained our focus, kept our composure and fought through tough spots tonight to get this conference win," said Stanger.
The Western Oregon men's basketball team will be on the road next week as it takes on Montana State Billings Thursday, Jan. 15, and Northwest Nazarene Saturday, Jan. 17.
"Next week is going to be a great test," explained Stanger. "Montana State Billings is playing very well and Northwest Nazarene is very explosive, it is going take a strong defensive effort for us to have a chance to win."
