Men's Basketball | 2/19/2009 9:26:31 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore.  - Central Washington collected 28 offensive rebounds en route to earning an 87-69 victory over Western Oregon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference showdown Thursday, Feb. 19.

With the win Central Washington, which is ranked in the NCAA west region, improved to 15-5 on the season and to 9-3 in the GNAC. The loss drops Western Oregon to 9-14 and 3-9 in the conference.

The Wildcats used a 49 to 23 advantage on the boards to outscore the Wolves 41 to six on second chance points. CWU was also able to turn its 28 offensive rebounds into 28 additional shots as WOU allowed its highest shot total of the season with 80.

Brandon Foote led all scorers with 21 points including 18 in the first half. Travis Kuhns lead WOU with 16 points as he went 5-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 at the free throw line. Sam Kelly, Stanley Ratcliff and Matt Schmidt each scored 12 points as the only other Wolves in double-figures. All eight players for Central Washington scored in the game.

Central started the game strong as it made its first three shots to jump on top 8-2. WOU then fought back to close within one point at 15-14 but CWU then went on a 9-2 run to push its lead to nine at 25-16. The Wildcats would continue to hold the lead as they took a 46-36 advantage into the half.

The Wildcats would lose its leading scorer Matt Penoncello for the rest game after he injured an ankle on a drive to start the second half. CWU would not let up as it pushed its lead to 19 during two points in the second half and went on to the 87-69 victory.

The Western Oregon men's basketball team will play in its final home game of the season Saturday, Feb. 21, against Northwest Nazarene beginning at 2:00 p.m. This will be the home game for four Western Oregon seniors.