Men's Basketball | 2/14/2009 11:41:52 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Steve Alford's three-pointer at the buzzer hit side rim as the Western Oregon University men's basketball team hung on to knock off the nation's No. 25 ranked Western Washington 85-83, Saturday, Feb. 14.

This was just the second loss of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season for WWU (16-4, 8-2) who entered the game ranked second in the NCAA west region and No. 25 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll. The win snapped a six-game winning streak for WWU while moving Western Oregon to 3-8 in the conference and to 9-13 on the season.

Travis Kuhns led Western Oregon with 23 points and seven assists. He was 7-of-10 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range and 5-of-7 at the free throw line. Mike McLaughlin posted his second straight double-double and fifth of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Blair Wheadon added 15 points while Matt Schmidt came off the bench with 10.

With the game tied 70-70 after Ira Graham made both his free throws for WWU, Western Oregon went on a 12-5 run to go on top 82-75 with 3:23 remaining. All 12 points came from behind the arc as Kuhns hit two three-pointers during the run and Marcus Harris and Wheadon each added one. Western Washington then responded with three straight baskets to pull within one point at 82-81 on a Michael Duty dunk with 1:35 remaining. Western Washington then fouled Kuhns on a drive sending the WOU senior to the line for two. After he knocked both shots down Graham raced up the floor and converted a layup with 0:17 left in the game. Western Oregon inbounded the ball to Kuhns on the following possession and he knocked down one of two free throws. WWU then had a chance to win the game but Alford's three-point attempt from the corner hit side rim as time expired sealing the victory for Western Oregon.

"Our guys played well together and with good composure," said WOU head coach Craig Stanger. "We were able to weather their comeback and hold on at the end for the win."

For the game, Western Oregon shot .593 percent from the floor (32-54) including a .667 percent clip in the second half (16-24). The Wolves were also effective from outside knocking down 9-of-17 from behind the arc.

"They are a very good team, especially their guards," continued Stanger.

This is the second nationally ranked team the Wolves have defeated this season as they also beat Saint Martin's 83-74 in Monmouth when the Saints were ranked No. 13 in the country.

The Western Oregon men's basketball team will close out the home portion of its schedule next week as it faces Central Washington (14-4, 8-2) on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:00 p.m., then tips-off against Northwest Nazarene (10-11, 2-9), Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2:00 p.m.